Real Estate Blog

Many people ask me when I am listing their homes if their garages are important in the sale of their home!  My answer is always - YES!  

When preparing to sell a home, the garage is one of the most forgotten rooms in the house. By nature, garages are places where we store many things that we don’t want or need in the house. They are also places where oil and gas are spilled due to cars, lawn mowers, etc. Garages also tend to store toys, mementos and many other items that at one time we thought were vitally important to us. Then, when we go through them, we wonder why in the world we thought they were important in the first place.

Well, as you can guess, all those boxes, stains, smells, unorganized tools, etc., can add up to an unsightly mess in the eyes of potential buyers.  So, that means, it’s time for a clean up. And just as important, a rigorous reorganization of the garage to make it shine in the eyes of the buyer. So here are a few steps to help eat that elephant one bite at a time:

1.  -          First, go through all those boxes in the garage and sort the items. Be ruthless! Toss out anything that no longer has any use or meaning. Even better, donate items that are still useful to your favorite charity. It feels great and makes somebody else happy at the same time. Plus, you can claim a tax deduction. By cleaning out the clutter, it will be easier to take the next step.

2.  -          Second, clean the garage as thoroughly as possible. Get rid of the dust and dirt wherever you find it. If you have minor oil or gas stains on the floor, try pressure washing. However, if they are larger or they’ve been longstanding, then you’ll need to find a more thorough cleanser. Even better, painting the floor creates a clean, pristine appearance, showing that you care.

3.  -          Third, consider a garage organization system. Usually the cheapest options consist of storage bins and wall hooks. But if you want to spend the money, there are also some available with wall panels and flooring. Depending on your needs, an organization system can range from approximately $40 to thousands of dollars. So simply google “garage organization systems” and you’ll find plenty of links to companies selling these products. Whatever system you choose, it will definitely give your garage a clean and organized look. 

I can’t stress how impressive it is to potential buyers to have a well-organized garage. This tells them that you’re a person who really takes care of every detail of your home and property. And that, in turn, let’s them know that buying your home will be a great investment on their part and well worth the asking price. Garages sell homes? Well, not actually, but they make a big statement about a home and the homeowner who is trying to sell. It's worth the effort!