What are your feelings about your garage? Maybe you rarely even think about it as little more than the spot where you park the car and store odds and ends like seasonal furniture, garden tools, and so on.
Probably, you don’t “worry” about it or think if there is a way to learn to love it. Yet, you should really reconsider. Why? It is amazing what can be done with a garage space.
From remarkably storage systems to the ultimate family room, it is possible to make a lot more of your garage. So, whether you have done the odd repair, tried tweaking or organizing the space, or even wondered if there isn’t more that could be done with it, we have 5 reasons to start loving your garage and giving it all the needed care, maintenance and improvements it deserves.
A garage increases a home’s value
A garage on its own boosts a home’s value, and particularly if it is connected to the residence. Offering storage and parking while enabling you to get to and from the home without being exposed to weather is always a boon. However, did you ever stop to consider that your front-facing garage door can represent between 30 and 45% of your home’s façade?
That means it is part of a home’s curb appeal and general good looks. It is also the first thing anyone sees when pulling into a drive.
Thus, the garage, or more specifically the garage door, can enhance or harm the home’s appearance. Ask a real estate professional or home appraiser and they’ll agree, indicating that any improvements to the exterior and/or interior of the garage is sure to boost overall home value. Many would-be buyers will see the garage as valuable, but even more so if it is functional and well-kept.
Protecting personal property
Your home represents your biggest investment in personal property, but what follows it? For most, it is a car or other vehicle. Both a home and a vehicle (whether car, truck or bike) require ongoing insurance and maintenance expenses, and yet it is the vehicle that can benefit directly from a garage. After all, it can be safely tucked inside where it will remain free of harm from exposure to the elements, potential theft and more.
Naturally, and as already noted, most of us put more than a vehicle or two in the garage. We keep things like mowers, tools, sporting goods, and more. We might even have valuable and sentimental items that we want free from moisture and risk. A well-organized garage can protect all these things, and if it has a higher ceiling, it can even have overhead storage to make protection a certainty.
It’s how you enter… make it nice!
Roughly 70% of homeowners use their garage as the primary access point to their house, and you will want to show your garage a bit of love if you fall into that group. After all, you should never arrive home only to struggle as you navigate a path through the clutter in the garage.
Instead of risking a fall or simply giving up and parking outdoors, set some time aside to reorganize. Not only will it get your things tidied up, but it makes it easier to tackle improvements inside of the garage. It also reduces your trip and fall risk and eliminates the chance of being mortified or embarrassed if neighbors, family or friends pop in and see the garage.
Identify Potential Risks
While you are organizing the garage, it gives you a chance to also eliminate potential risks. After all, most of us have old containers of flammable or toxic materials laying around, as well as old cans of paint that can be properly recycled, as well as old oil or grease. This is the time to look for local resources for properly disposing of such materials. However, it is also a chance to cut the health risks along with the clutter.
And by health risks, it could be that vermin are also attracted to your garage and doing a clear out will help you find traces of them and eliminate whatever draws them. And while rats or mice can be a “living” issue, so too can dangerous molds that can create breathing problems and bad odors. If you ignore your garage, serious problems make appear in some hidden.
It can become a new happy place
We’ve all seen programs about craft rooms and “man caves,” and all the rest. Have you thought about turning the garage into a spot for your favorite activities or hobbies? It will require a bit of creative thinking and some time, but a garage can be the perfect spot for DIY projects like hand dyeing fabric, doing some woodworking, and more.
It can also become a TV room or a den where groups can gather to watch a premium entertainment system. Why not consider the garage as a spot for your new home business, or just get it empty and organized and think about the endless options that space presents?
You Won’t Regret It!
Now that you see how you can start to love your garage more, how do you feel about taking steps to increase the value of your home, have a neat and well-organized garage, and a safe garage where everyone in the family could use to enter and leave the house?
If you answered that you want to act on all of this information, and get a new garage door system along the way, just contact us at 613-749-2138. At your request, we can send you a no-obligation quotation by email.
Our showroom is also an option if you are also planning on changing your garage door, and you can use the Design Centre to identify the style of door that best suits your needs, or take inspiration from our image gallery.
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