Your Garage's Hidden Home Value!

By nature, garages are places where we store many things that don’t want or need in the house. Garages tend to store toys, mementos and many other items that, at one time we thought were vitally important. They are also places where oil and gasoline are spilled due to cars, mowers, snow blowers, etc.

Well, as you can guess, all those boxes, stains, smells, unorganized tools, etc., can add up to an unsightly mess in the eyes of potential buyers. So that means it’s time for a cleanup and, just as important, a rigorous re-organization of the garage to make it “shine” in the eyes of buyers.

First:
Go through all those boxes in your garage and sort out the items. Be ruthless and toss out anything that no longer has any use or meaning. Even better, donate items that are still useful to your favorite charity. You’ll feel great and it will make somebody else happy at the same time. By clearing out all the clutter, you’ll make it easier to take the next step.

Second:
Clean the garage as thoroughly as possible. Get rid of dust and dirt anywhere you find it. If you have minor oil/gas stains on the floor, you may be able to pressure wash them away. However, if they are large and/or long-standing stains, then you’ll need to find a cleanser like TSP (trisodium phosphate) or specially-made cleansers like “Gunk,” “Swab,” etc. that can be found at paint/automotive stores or in sections of “big box” stores like Wal-Mart.

Third:
Consider a “garage organization” system. Usually, the cheapest ones consist of storage bins and wall hooks. But, if you want to spend the money, there are also organizers available with wall panels and flooring. Depending on your needs, an organization system can range from approximately $40 to thousands of dollars.

Simply Google “garage organization systems”, and you’ll find plenty of links to companies selling these products. No matter what system you choose, it will definitely give your garage a clean and professional look. I can’t stress how impressive it is to potential buyers to have a well-organized garage.

This tells them that you’re a person who takes care of every detail of your home and property. And that, in turn, lets them know that buying your home will be a great investment on their part and well worth the asking price.