Modern house designs often emphasize the garage, combining secure access into a property with the aesthetic of sleek doors that obey your command at the touch of a button.
Buyers increasingly favor homes that have the garage integrated into the design so that it provides secure access – and they’re willing to pay a premium for it.
There’s a lesson here for buyers and sellers.
Buyers should consider a garage as not just a feature but an asset that will likely boost the capital value of a home because parking issues in any metropolitan area are never going to go away.
Their importance will be even more significant when electric cars become popular, and owners want a permanent and safe electricity supply to recharge overnight.
If you’re thinking or preparing to sell your house, you have a lot to gain from making your garage a real feature.
As an experienced local agent in your neighborhood, I’d be delighted to advise you on the local buying trends and how you can prepare your home to maximise its value.
Below are some reasons why your garage should be a major feature when you put up the “For Sale” sign.
- Double-garages can add up to $50,000 in value to most homes – and that figure can more than double in metropolitan areas where parking is at a premium.
- Garages protect one of the most valuable assets most buyers own – their cars. An obvious point, but it’s important to remember why they should be a significant feature when you sell.
- For any prestige property, consider installing power and a charging unit for electric cars.
- A street with parking challenges pulls down the price of a property so a garage can add a premium.
- A garage is a relatively cheap and easy way to add to the total square footage of your home, a factor that influences price.
- Storage can be an issue in many homes, but a garage will come to the rescue and provide an opportunity to create order across the rest of the house.
- Garages are a priority for buyers who have boats and surf-skis, and hobbyists, such as those who enjoy woodworking or working out privately.
- Appliances such as freezers and air-conditioning units have a natural home in a garage.
- Some owners install polished cement floors. Mirrors against the back wall are popular as they increase the feeling of space.
- Discuss with your agent or a designer whether purchasing modern-looking, state-of-the-art garage doors will improve the appearance of the front of your house and deliver a return on investment.
- For inspections, make sure the garage is tidy and organized. Remove your vehicles to give prospective buyers a sense of the space offered.