Garage Upgrade Inspirations To Help Increase Your Home’s Value

When was the last time you really looked at your garage and considered its value? If you’re looking to increase your property value, upgrading or building a garage is a great idea. According to Forbes, homeowners can realize a return on investment (ROI) of 65%. That means a $15,000 upgrade can increase your home’s value by as much as $24,750.

Here are some tips for garage upgrades that have the most impact on property value.

Improve Your Overall Garage Door Experience

There are a lot of fancy “smart” gadgets that you can attach to your garage door these days. You can connect it to your smart device to allow you to open your garage door remotely from your smartphone to allow housesitters or guests in or to even make your garage door open automatically as you pull into your driveway. With today’s quickly advancing technology, the sky is truly the limit. Installing a cool new smart system can be a high ROI way to quickly complete a project that will be sure to wow the next prospective buyer as they tour the house. 

Upgrade The Garage Door Structure Itself

If the door is past its prime, consider replacing it with a lightweight or insulated door. Ensuring that your garage door is insulated is a fantastic way to improve your home’s overall HVAC health so that you don’t have to pay as much to heat or cool your garage throughout the year. Just changing the door or adding insulating panels can significantly boost the climate comfort of your garage year round! 

Painting The Door

If the door can’t be replaced, a new coat of paint can do wonders. Think of the door as an exterior design element and use a color that complements the house. This is a great project that can be done in a weekend that will really rejuvenate the curb appeal of your home. 

Optimize Your Storage

Too much clutter gives buyers the impression that the home lacks proper storage. First, purge the garage of all unused items. If the exercise equipment is buried under the kayak, odds are you don’t need them. Eliminating things you no longer use clears space for important items such as cars!

Add Additional Storage Space For Seasonal Items

Storing lawn or patio furnishings during the winter is fine. Even keeping holiday lights and decorations is acceptable. Just make sure it is organized. To that end, you can really get the most out of your storage by following these storage hacks from LoveProperty.com. If a buyer is considering your home and they see that you have taken steps to install a robust storage and organization system, then they will be singing your praises as they write you a check. 

Install Uniform Shelving Units

Storage systems give the space a finished look. Well-constructed, heavy-duty wire shelves are usually the least expensive option. They should be wide enough to hold storage bins and secured to the wall. Using the same size and color storage containers provides a more cohesive look. This can help give a more uniform appearance to your garage and allows you to leverage more of the garage space for other projects and upgrades.

Organizing Tools

If you store tools in the garage, consider purchasing storage chests that are designed for that purpose. Place all tools in one place to create a work area, if needed. Consolidating all of your hand tools in a central place is a great way to shore up extra storage in your garage and can impress buyers if you have a permanent storage fixture like a peg board or magnetic hanging system. Just concentrating on upgrading your tool storage can be a fantastic weekend project that will help you not be as stressed when you are looking for the right tool for your next project around the house.

Upgrade And Update Lighting

Buyers enjoy well-lit rooms. Dimly lit spaces feel dated and dingy. Adding better lighting can boost a home’s value. Install motion-sensing lighting around the garage’s exterior and at least one on the interior. Consider upgrading to shop lighting with LED bulbs. You can even get smart-bulbs that connect to your smartphone that allows you an extra degree of control and customization.

Improve The Flooring

Concrete is porous. Leaky garbage bags and car oil spills stain the floor. Having a shining new floor makes a big difference. If stains cannot be removed, consider painting the floor and sealing it with an epoxy finish. The floor will sparkle, and buyers will appreciate the easy-to-clean surface. Flooring can even be added that helps to insulate and better regulate the HVAC efficiency and performance of your home as well. New flooring is a great way to impress a buyer, too!

Electrical Outlet Improvements

If your garage lacks electrical outlets, add at least two GFCI outlets per wall. Buyers need outlets for vacuuming car interiors and charging tools. Staying on the smart-home train, you can install smart outlets that you can control from your phone or centralized home device (like Amazon’s Alexa) that will allow you to power on or off any device that is connected from anywhere in your home or the world. This is great for something like a sound system or home theater setup that you could also install in the garage that would make an excellent selling point, especially for buyers with kids!

Quick tip: Place a brand new, fully charged fire extinguisher in the garage. It’s a nice detail that buyers will notice.

Update Or Install Better Plumbing

Garages need a drain. If you’ve added an epoxy finish to the floor, adding a drain makes cleaning the floors a breeze if your space has a water faucet. If it doesn’t, add one. It makes it easy to clean vehicles and outdoor furniture or toys. Place it on an interior wall to protect against freezing.

Add A Dog Shower Station

If you want to impress buyers, put in a doggie shower. These outdoor cleaning stations are on trend and aren’t that expensive if you’ve already added a water supply to the garage. Pet owners will appreciate the convenience of cleaning their dogs before they enter the house. A dog or pet shower station is a unique and shareable upgrade that you can do that will have an excellent ROI on your home. It will be a fantastic talking point when discussing your home with a buyer and it also allows you to save money at the pet groomers. 

Create A Mudroom Space (Popular With Buyers That Have Larger Families!)

Create a mini-mudroom where people can leave their shoes and coats. A wall of cubbies can make the space look finished. Pegboards can work for hats, gloves, and scarves. Use simple hooks for hanging coats. A small area where families can drop their dirty shoes and outdoor gear before tracking dirt through the house.

For The Road

We hope that today’s article has given you at least a little food for thought on your next home improvement project. The garage is so often just thought of as a space for storing junk and parking cars, but it can be so much more. It can be an essential, welcoming, and valuable space in your home that can truly take your home’s equity and quality of life to the next level. Let us know on social media or in the comments section if you have tried any of these garage project ideas or if you have some of your own garage upgrade stories of your own. We can’t wait to hear from you.