Are you thinking of selling your home? Certainly, we are in a strange market right now, but that hasn’t stopped people from buying and selling homes. There is plenty to do before you put that “For Sale” sign up in your front yard. You have to get your home ready for staging, take inventory, and complete home improvement projects you have neglected for a month or year too long. And let’s not forget about your garage, another oft-neglected part of the house. Garage improvements add significantly to your home’s sell-ability.
That’s why we have put together a comprehensive list for you to use as a guide when preparing your home to be put on the market. Small improvements make a big impact when people are looking to buy the house of their dreams. Will yours be it?
Prepping Your Garage for the Market
Let’s start with one of the most obvious things about your home: The garage. Guess what – curb appeal is king. The vast majority of homeowners – including those who might want to buy your home – will likely want to use the garage to get in and out of the house. How does it look?
The first thing anyone is going to see is your garage door. Is it dirty, damaged, old or worn out? You need to be worried about more than how it looks. Functionality is just as important. Make sure you inspect your garage door for noises, creaks, or damage. Also have a look at your garage opener. Is it doing its job effectively? The last thing you want is to open your garage door to a potential buyer only to be embarrassed by its herky-jerky movements. Another sale bites the dust! Garage improvements might be just what you need.
It may turn out you have damage to your door or its components that you did not expect. If you have malfunctioning springs or issues with tracks or rollers, it might be time to call one of the experts at Prestige Door!
Consider that prepping your garage is also about looks. A fresh coat of paint and a clean, well-ordered garage go a long way in impressing potential home buyers, or even friends and guests. Whatever the reason, a tip-top shape garage is going to do you favors in the long run.
If there is one final consideration that deserves to be highlighted, it is, well lighting. Far too often the lighting in your garage makes it seem more like a cave than an inviting space. It makes for a quick, easy and inexpensive garage improvement. Furthermore, nothing welcomes a potential buyer like a well-lit space. Replace dim lighting and give your garage the shine it deserves.
Get Smart With Your Garage Improvements
We have talked about it before: Smart devices and WiFi garage door openers. Look, this is the future. Everything has a technological solution and that includes your home and garage. Even more, the modern homeowner is more accustomed to technology and automation than ever before. The concept of a “smart home” is no longer just science fiction. Automated thermostats and smart security cameras tied to a cloud-based AI are now science fact.
Even your garage door can come with all the bells and whistles. You can receive alerts sent straight to your phone when a garage door opens or closes or you can change its position from your smart device. You can even open and close your garage these days with a smart assistant like Amazon Alexa. When it comes to operating your garage door, these days there’s an app for that!
And with home security companies increasingly integrating their technologies with third-party hardware and devices, there is more choice than ever before. New technologies allow garage doors and openers to be integrated directly into your homes security and smart network. The future is here.
Consider the Bottom Line
Whether your garage is a game room or a place for your car to sleep, it should look good. Just because it may not be the “master bedroom” or “living room” per se, does not make it an less important, especially when selling your home. After all, you want to get the most buck for your bang, right? It shouldn’t be a question as to whether a nice garage improves your home’s value. It simply does. We can help you fix common garage door problems.
The fact is this: If you want to get the most out of the sale of your home, you need to ensure every aspect of it is as polished as can be, and that definitely includes your garage. According to Home Advisor, the average cost to renovate or convert a garage, is anywhere from $5,961 – $22,030, depending on the nature and type of garage. That is a huge range. Yet, a poor-looking garage wallowing in disrepair will easily knock the same amount off your selling price. Likely more.
Attached garages are less expensive than detached garages. These are what you normally see in residential homes. Depending on the state of the garage, you can expect anywhere from $7,500 – $10,000 for a full renovation. Just consider your options. You may not even need a full renovation. You would be amazed at what a primer over concrete and fresh coat of paint over cupboards will do. Perhaps the only garage improvements your garage needs are a thorough cleaning and scrub down.
Just remember, it doesn’t matter how clean your garage is if your garage door is a mess. Even if you aren’t putting your house up for sale, a functional, good-looking garage door isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Contact Us to know more.