Aug 10 | Posted by Barry

Something that has become quite apparent of recent is how little attention people give to their garage's upkeep relative to the rest of the house. It's a common trap to fall into, but you should take heed, because it can play a much larger role than expected in detracting potential buyers.

I've seen this happen before. When the tidiness of the garage doesn't match the rest of the house, you can see the alarm bells ringing in the buyer’s head. It’s like looking backstage at a magic show. Many prospective buyers are aware that a house is cleaned and staged to the nines in preparation for an open house or tour. But when the garage doesn’t adhere to this expectation, it puts a doubt in their minds about the rest of the dwelling. For example, a badly cracked floor in the garage implies that there may be problems with the foundation, regardless of whether this is actually true or not.

A cluttered garage also muddles the perception of how spacious the house really is, acting in much the same way as removing excess furniture during the staging process. Buyers will often ask themselves, “Is this big enough to park my car?” If your garage is filled to the brim, people won’t be able to properly answer this question and they’ll likely assume the negative. This can be a hefty turnoff, especially for the middle and upper ends of the market where enough room is needed for a second car or for storing a sports car during winter.

Moments after assessing whether an auto can fit, such buyers will peer around a messy garage, curl their faces, and whisper, “I’m going to have to clean this up, won’t I?” It’s a feeling of extra burden that only compounds previous suspicions.

Again, what I am talking about here is buyer perceptions. You may fully intend to pack up all your stuff before moving, the space may readily accommodate a vehicle when cleared, and the cracked tiles likely have nothing to do with the foundation. But that’s not the way newcomers to your home will interpret the situation. All said, the cleanliness of the garage has to match the rest of the interior or you’re in for problems.

Not to worry though, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Most often all that’s needed is a remedial cleanup that’s more labor intensive than wallet intensive. Depending on how much you have to throw out and how you’re going to organize what’s left, this job isn’t more than one or two Sundays worth of work.

The first step, as always, is to assess what you have and decide what you can do without. Start with the bulkier items such as your gardening tools. The rule of thumb here is: the older the equipment, the less likely you are to ever use it again, especially if you are planning a move to a new house. Take this to heart when evaluating everything else you keep in the garage. The second part of this stage involves grouping like-sized together so you can better visualize a new layout as well as tool accessibility and storage.

But before you get into the rearranging process, you should take this time, while the garage is at its emptiest, to give it a thorough wash. Wipe dust off of the walls and shelving units then rinse the floor for leaves and dirt. This would also be the point where you’d seal off any cracks in the tile if they are visible.

Only once this is done will you be able to put the pieces back together. Even then, you should be thinking with not just the mentality of what will be most convenient, but what will be aesthetically pleasing for first impressions. If you have the opportunity, color coordinate your shelving units, then think of how to intermix bins, hooks and magnetic place holders. This last step can entail a lot of creativity if you so desire. Browse a hardware store or a topical magazine if you’re looking for inspiration. I know someone who cleaned out his garage and refurbished it with chandeliers!

Still remember that this is only your garage. Don’t fret too much over what to discard or how to decorate. Not as much effort is need for a good garage impression. It just has to be tidy. Anything else is bonus. And at the end of the day, when buyers come around, all the time spent towards the garage will translate to a better appreciation and higher value of your house.