Garages are intended to be a place to park your car to keep it out of the elements. However, they also occasionally become the most convenient dumping ground for many unused household items, sometimes eliminating the space needed to actually park your car.
They’re out of sight to any guests, making them a convenient place to pile endless amounts of junk. However, cleaning up your garage can greatly optimize your home’s storage space – and is an important area to consider staging when selling your home.
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Here’s what you need to know in order to optimize and organize your garage.
Tip 1: Take Inventory
In order to successfully re-organize one of the biggest junk collecting rooms in your house, you’ll need to sort through it all first. Yes, all of it.
Figure out what you use regularly like your lawn and garden tools, shovels and rakes, and sporting equipment. Those are things you’ll keep. Sort out everything you no longer use or are broken and unrepairable. Throw. Them. Out.
You can also donate or sell those items if they’re still in good condition. Garage and yard sales are great ways to get rid of things you no longer want or need. Your trash could be someone else’s treasure!
Tip 2: Maximize Space
Now that you’ve rid yourself of a good portion of old and unused belongings, it’s time to start organizing and optimizing the space you have.
Many garages contain a lot of dead space particularly near the ceiling. But if you actually plan on parking your car in your garage, that’s valuable real estate you won’t want to waste.
If you have a garage with rafters, the ceiling beams are very useful storage solutions for skis, lawn equipment, and other miscellaneous objects. They’re often relatively easy to reach with a small step stool and allow unhindered access to your garage at all times. They’re particularly useful for storing seasonal items, keeping them out of the way during the months they aren’t needed.
If rafters aren’t an option with your garage, there are many other storage solutions around that can help maximize all that empty space. For example, steel shelving that can be installed and hung from the ceiling provide handy platforms for storing just about anything.
Keeping as many things as possible off the floor is also important. Bikes and lawn mowers are two items that take up a lot of room in the garage depending on how many occupants share the space. Using available walls to hang these bulkier objects will free up a lot of walking and parking space.
Tip 3: Move It Out of Sight
Organizing your smaller belongings into bins or closed cupboards will also help you keep your garage clutter free and looking good.
The open shelving plan that many garages have often encourage you pile up junk without really thinking about it. By forcing yourself to organize your possessions in designated locations, you’re less likely to accumulate stuff you don’t need. It also makes things super easy to find in the future.
If you don’t already have a garage and can afford adding one in a renovation, it can substantially increase the value of your home. Especially when living in a larger city where long-term parking is a hot commodity.
Whether you’re looking to buy or sell, be sure to keep these tips in mind when checking out the local real estate for sale in your area. Get your garage organized before you begin showing your house to potential buyers and figure out a plan to organize your new one before filling it to the brim with moving boxes.
