How important is a garage when buying a home?

When looking for a home in Whitby, Oshawa, Uxbridge, and Durham Region, how much is a garage worth to you? There are homeowners who will not consider a home that does not have a garage and a few who do not care.  Whether or not the value of your home relies on a garage there are a couple of factors you need to consider.  First does a garage add to your home’s value?  Do the other homes in the same neighborhood have a garage? 

Why Have a Garage?

If your prospective home is in a mid-level or higher price range in a cold climate, a garage is essential. If you are looking at a home without a garage, you may need to walk away.

A garage is critical in today’s turbulent real estate market. If you do not have a garage and have enough land, it would be wise to go ahead and add one. Your two-car garage investment will most likely return two-and-a-half times what it cost you to build. Your garage does not have to be anything special; just roomy, clean, and organized. 

Staging the Garage

Avoid using the garage as a dumping ground for everything that won’t fit into your house.  Curb appeal extends from the drive into the garage and then into the house.  

Unclutter the garage by getting rid of extra stuff. Sell unused items or take them to Goodwill so someone else can use them.  There are a number of companies that exist that will clean your garage in a very short period of time!

Use strong hooks for bikes and equipment that is taking up space. Remind your buyer (or ask if you are the buyer), what storage items come with the garage.

Get everything off the floor and onto shelves or into cabinets or storage containers. Hang tools on a pegboard, or if you are lucky, put them in drawers and cabinets and keep them off the floor.

Builders and homeowners make sure smoke detectors are installed in homes.  What about the garage?  Install a smoke detector there, too.  You have more flammables in the garage than in any other place on your property.

When looking at a home, inspect the garage. Check to see if the walls and corners are dust and spider web free. If you are the seller, pay particular attention to dusty shelves and cobwebs on exposed beams.

Replace burnt-out light bulbs and add lights if the garage is too dim. Repair and maintain the garage door. If you need, install an automatic opener. 

Point out extras like storage space or a workbench. Potential buyers love built-ins that add space and storage. 

A garage that looks great may not make or break a sale, but it might be the influencing factor for a buyer to purchase a home.  Stage the garage and make a good first impression.  Show the buyer what can be done with a garage space.  Clean and organize.  Park your cars in the garage.   Take the same care to present your garage as you would the rest of your home when it’s up for sale.

If you have any questions as to what you should do with your garage to make it more appealing to prospective buyers, give Team Bryant a call!  We look forward solving all of your garage problems and helping you attain the highest Real Estate value for Whitby, Oshawa, Uxbridge, and Durham Region your home!