Upgrade Your Garage to Boost Your Home’s Resale Value

Upgrade Your Garage to Boost Your Home’s Resale Value

Many various factors will affect the value of your home when you sell it. You won’t have any control over some aspects, such as the home’s age, location, and the selling prices of properties close.

However, you have control over how your home appears when it’s time to sell. The value of your property will be determined in large part by the well-planned home additions and improvements you make.

Homeowners are becoming more and more aware of the benefits garage renovations can have when it comes time to place their house on the market.

Even if worrying about your home’s future selling value might not be at the top of your list of concerns right now, it’s important to think about the daily advantages of a garage makeover until that time comes:

• Your garage will have much nicer outside and interior aesthetics.
• Garage storage space can be utilized more effectively.
• You can maintain order and cleanliness in your garage.
• Energy efficiency in homes will increase

Here are some of the few things you can do right now to ensure your home’s resale value!

Opt for New Garage Floors

There are numerous garage floor upgrade alternatives, but not all of them are the best for aesthetic upgrades. For instance, items used for floor patching, such as crack filler and patching compounds, are strictly for repairs and are not intended to be ornamental.

Another alternative that you’re probably familiar with is roll-on sealers. Instead of making the floor more attractive, their main purpose is to protect it. After being treated, clear sealers make flaws and irregularities in the floor visible. Although some varieties permit the addition of tints for greater aesthetics, in general, you shouldn’t turn to sealers for any noticeable improvement to a floor’s appearance.

These are the five most popular options for decorative floor rejuvenation products:

Polished Concrete

• A method of enhancing your garage floor without adding any material is concrete polishing. It’s a procedure that entails using diamond-impregnated pads to grind, hone, and polish your concrete floor to produce a smooth, shining, and durable surface. Your concrete floor’s inherent beauty, toughness, and ease of cleaning and maintenance can all be improved with concrete polishing. Given that it doesn’t need coating or sealing, it is also an environmentally friendly and low-maintenance solution. However, there are some negatives to concrete polishing as well. It might not be appropriate for all varieties of concrete and can be highly costly and time-consuming. Additionally, it might not provide much insulation or cushioning and it might reveal certain floor defects or fractures.

Epoxy

• One of the most well-liked and economical garage flooring solutions is epoxy finishing. It is a resin-based liquid that solidifies to create a durable, glossy, and smooth surface. Your concrete floor’s faults can be concealed by epoxy coating, which also produces a flawless and watertight finish. You may also personalize your garage floor to suit your taste and preferences because it is available in a number of colors and patterns. The epoxy coating does, however, have significant disadvantages. It takes a long time to prepare and apply, and it cannot stick well to moist or inadequately ventilated concrete. In particular, exposure to UV radiation or chemicals can cause it to fade or peel over time.

Concrete Stain

• Another choice for beautifying your garage floor without covering it up is concrete stain. It’s a chemical mixture that seeps into your concrete floor and reacts with it to produce a colorful and textured look. Concrete stains can conceal certain minor imperfections and stains while giving your garage floor a natural and rustic appearance. It may last for a very long period if properly sealed and maintained, and it is also reasonably cheap and simple to apply. Concrete stain does, however, have some restrictions. It cannot alter the texture or level of your floor and can only be used on bare, clean concrete. It may not provide much defense against chemicals or dampness and can eventually fade or wear off.

Interlocking Tiles

• Another popular and adaptable option for garage flooring is interlocking tiles. To create a grid-like pattern on your floor, they are modular pieces of plastic, rubber, or vinyl that snap together. Interlocking tiles don’t need adhesive or specialized tools, and they are simple to put in and take out. Additionally, they provide a great deal of versatility and diversity because you may combine various hues, sizes, and textures to make your own pattern. Interlocking tiles can cushion your feet, cut down on noise, and are stain, spill, and moisture resistant. Interlocking tiles may, however, potentially have certain drawbacks. The gaps between the tiles may become clogged with dirt and debris, and they might be more expensive than epoxy coating. Heavy weights or extremely high temperatures can also cause them to bend or shatter.

Roll-Out Vinyl Flooring

• Another straightforward and practical alternative for garage flooring is roll-out mats. You may roll out and cut these sizable sheets of rubber, vinyl, or polyvinyl to fit your floor. Roll-out mats may shield your concrete floor from stains, scratches, and wetness and are simple to install and maintain. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and offer some insulation and sound absorption as well. Roll-out mats, however, might potentially provide some difficulties. When wet, they may be slippery, and as time passes, they may curl or move. Additionally, they may not be able to hide fractures or unevenness in your concrete floor, and they may be harmed by chemicals or sharp things.

A room’s appearance is changed with decorative garage flooring.

A new garage floor may drastically alter the appearance of a garage with the right product and an appropriate installation. The before and after pictures show that a garage can appear anything but boring with a professional makeover. 

The flakes offer decorative flare that adds a whole new degree of visual appeal to the floor and, by extension, the entire garage, unlike floor paint that only covers a cement surface in a single hue.

The opulent, contemporary look that may be achieved with a product coating is comparable to that of a luxury auto showroom. Who wouldn’t want such a beautiful garage?

It will also reflect light better and brighten the area if the floor has a glossy finish. A garage will feel less like a prison and more like a cozy, inviting area of your house if you paint the walls and ceiling a lighter color and improve the lighting.

It’s crucial to take into account the rest of your garage’s decor when installing a new garage floor and to have creative flexibility.

Use a flooring material that complements the rest of the space and showcases your sense of style. This is easier to do thanks to the variety of floor coating colors Garage Living provides. 

You may design a unique, personalized garage floor because floor tiles are so simple to install and come in a variety of patterns, styles, and colors.

This garage had the typical drab and unfinished appearance of most garages before it was renovated.

The renovation changed the garage’s appearance from boring to fantastic. Certain floor covering gives the room a chic showroom-quality image, and the colors work well together to complement one another.

 

Electrical Garage Lighting

Your garage demands appropriate lighting, just like any other area in your home. Having excellent illumination is crucial because the majority of us use our garages for either parking our cars, storing supplies , or as a workshop. It will not only make it easier for you to move around the area, but it will also stop any unpleasant falls or injuries.

The sheer variety of options available on the market may be deterring you from purchasing garage lighting. Furthermore, you might be perplexed by what you should seek in garage lights. Where do you begin with so many various sizes, brightness levels, and features?

• Multiple types

To start, you must decide on the kind of lighting you want to use. Accent, task, and ambient noises are the three different categories. In general, ambient lighting is excellent for illuminating the floors and walls, task lighting improves vision, and accent lighting is excellent for highlighting specific items in the garage that you might want to draw attention to. While most people will choose fluorescent lights, keep in mind that they only function at specific temperatures, so you’d need to take that into account.

• Lighting intensity

The brightness level of your garage lighting will also need to be determined. Now that brightness is measured in lumens, a bulb with at least 3,500 lumens is optimum. To save some money on your household energy costs, you should therefore think about purchasing energy-efficient bulbs. The best option is typically an LED bulb because they don’t release UV rays or contain mercury.

The color rendering index (CRI) is the next factor you must take into account. This is especially crucial if your garage serves as a workspace. The CRI will assist in displaying the accurate colors of any paint you use on woodwork or other projects.

Electrical Outlets

You anticipate that there will be power when you plug something into an outlet, correct? There is, in the majority of cases. However, things aren’t always so straightforward.

 

Over time, electrical safety has significantly improved. This may indicate that your power outlets are obsolete if your home is older. The good news is that newer, safer ones can be used in their place.

Types of Power Outlets

• Two-slot vs. three-slot receptacles

In the past, two-slot power outlets were the norm for new homes. Unfortunately, there is no grounding for these outlets. This indicates that the third wire that guards against electric shock is missing.

Ungrounded outlets provide a significant security risk. They not only guard against electric shocks but also lessen the chance of short circuits. When electricity departs a circuit, a short circuit occurs. This can cause a short and harm to your equipment. It may even start an electrical fire, which is worse.

A grounding wire is present in a three-slot power outlet. At the base of the plug region, in the circular slot. The grounding wire will receive any voltage that escapes the circuit rather than your hand (or any other place).

• GFCI outlets

Ground fault circuit interrupter is referred to as GFCI. These power outlets are security features. A GFCI device turns off the power if the current flowing through the circuit changes. Thus, an electric shock is avoided.

Your home’s GFCI outlets are likely only located next to sinks, in the garage, and on the exterior of the building, unless it is brand-new. All of your electrical outlets should feature GFCI protection if your home is new.

• AFCI outlets

Arc fault circuit interrupter is referred to as AFCI. AFCI outlets are safety measures as well, although they lessen the chance of electrical fires rather than shocks. The AFCI gadget turns off the power to the circuit if the current is in a circuit arc. A fire can be started by an electrical arc. Arcing is stopped by cutting off the circuit’s power.

AFCI outlets and AFCI circuit breakers are the two types of AFCI protection. You can get advice from an electrician on what’s best for your home.

• Tamper-resistant receptacles (TRRs)

Receptacles that are tamper-resistant have a cover over the plug slots. The prongs of a plug must be put into the slots with equal pressure in order for this cover to slide out of the way. Therefore, if you insert a paperclip or a hairpin into one of the outlet slots, the cover will not move. The cover keeps the metal object from making contact with the outlet’s contact points. This avoids electrocution and shock.

 

The National Electrical Code currently mandates TRRs in all new construction. Ask your electrician about updating TRRs if your older home has young children.

Heating and Air Conditioning 

It’s fun and interesting to turn the garage of your home into a better living area. It requires extensive planning, just like any other endeavor. Consider what HVAC options you’ll need as you get ready for your garage conversion to turn the area into a cozy living area and to improve its value.

Your system will need to be sized for the additional space since you will be adding more. If you want to know if your present system can handle the additional space, we can perform a load calculation. Although it can be difficult, it is possible to run ductwork to the garage, and it is typically the most affordable choice for a garage conversion.

Get a New HVAC Installed

If your current HVAC system is getting on in years, you might think about switching to a unit that can handle the added space. Even though the system now takes care of a greater room, a more energy-efficient unit will probably keep your energy expenditures the same or even lower them.

For garage conversions, a ductless mini-split system is a fantastic choice. A ductless system is compact, extremely quiet, offers the best AC SEER ratings, and because each zone’s temperature is changeable, each room’s tenant can set the temperature to their preference without affecting the rest of your house. Ductless systems enable point-of-use air cooling and heating, which is perfect for family members with respiratory issues and improves indoor air quality.

 

Insulation

When considering ways to reduce your carbon footprint, your garage ought to truly be seen as an addition to your home and given the same consideration. Poor energy efficiency in the garage directly affects the rest of your house and its value as well.

Your winter hydro bill is increased by the cold garage air that seeps into your heated living space. Your use of the air conditioner and your utility bill will both rise as a result of the hot summer air entering your home through the garage.

There are several ways to increase the energy efficiency of your garage. Here are some suggestions for increasing both the energy efficiency of your garage and the entire value of your home.

Wall and Ceiling/Attic insulation

Insulating the walls and ceiling of your garage is one of the most effective ways to increase energy efficiency. Depending on the requirements of your garage, different types are available (such as blow-in, batting, spray foam, and styrofoam board insulation). By reducing the amount of cold and warm air that enters your garage from the outside, the right sort of insulation that is installed correctly will help maintain the temperature more steady.

Your heating and cooling expenses will go down if the temperature in your garage is more consistent and has a lower effect on the temperature within the rest of the house. Insulating the walls and ceiling of the garage is especially crucial for homes with a living space above it.

Garage door insulation

Adding energy-efficient insulation to your garage door is a continuation of insulating the walls and ceiling of your garage. The weatherstripping around your doorframe can be improved to increase the energy efficiency of your garage. If you’re a knowledgeable homeowner, you might be able to install garage door insulation or weatherstripping on your own. Alternatively, you could need a new garage door installed by experts like Garage Living.

Regardless of the R-value you’re searching for, there are a variety of bespoke solutions accessible if you fall into the latter category. Polystyrene boards or polyurethane spray foam are frequently used as insulation materials in modern garage doors. Compared to older garage doors, modern garage doors are also built with superior thermal breaks and seals, which improves their ability to insulate.

Along with increasing your garage’s energy efficiency, garage door insulation also helps enable your garage door to operate more quietly, decreases both internal and external noise transfer, and it also makes the garage door stronger.

Your garage’s energy efficiency is increased by having an insulated garage door.

 

Create a Multi-Purpose Space

Home Gym

The garage is a fantastic location for bodyweight, functional, and strength training. It’s a home gym that enables you to lift weights and work out hard without causing damage to your house. The size of a garage makes it possible to design an amazing home gym. Additionally, you can use lighting, music, and any other design aspects you can think of to create an inspiring setting.

WoodWorking Shop

Another thing you can use your garage for other than being  a gym is a woodworking station or shop! A lot of people use the extra space they have in their garage to create their own woodworking pieces. However, if you intend to set up your woodworking station in your garage where a mistake may have a lifelong effect, have a basic first aid kit, a suitable extinguisher for electrical and chemical threats, and personal protective equipment in the shop.

Studio (arts and crafts)

You may be looking to expand your creative interests or you may have outgrown your small arts and crafts area and are looking for something bigger and better. Having a dedicated room to work on your crafts can improve your experience and increase productivity, whether you’re a potential artist, a DIY fanatic, or merely an individual who enjoys using their imagination. A garage is another location where you can perform more crafting. The garage room in your house can be converted into a completely working crafts studio with a few key factors and some innovative thinking. 

Entertainment

Every person seeks some lovely, quiet downtime at home when they can put their feet up, switch on the TV, and temporarily forget about the world in today’s busy and hectic world. The garage is a new challenger in town to meet these needs, and you probably already have access to one if you need a recreation room, entertainment area, or simply a bonus room.

With a handful of these suggestions, you can quickly transform your dinghy storage area into an opulent retreat. Your place will go from being a parking lot to heaven.

Ping Pong

There are many benefits to setting up your table tennis equipment in a garage. You get to enjoy a lot of room, you’re still inside, and no one should really be bothered by your noise or activities.

The largest room in a house is occasionally the garage. Even though a ping pong table might occupy the whole middle of a room, players still need room to walk around it without tipping over lights or stumbling over objects. A garage has plenty of room for them.

The majority of garages lack climate control. However, since they’re still inside, participants can play regardless of the weather, including rain, snow, and even whether or not the sun is up. That is very convenient for schedules because it doesn’t matter what the weather is like. If you’re searching for a fun outdoor activity, check out our reviews of the top spike ball sets.

Whether you’re competing in singles or doubles, ping pong also generates noise. The incessant bopping and bouncing of the ball off the table, paddles, and occasionally other surfaces can irritate the ears of bystanders even if it may not seem like much to the players. Playing inside disturbs those who are trying to work, read, or unwind. If you play outside, your dogs or the neighbors’ dogs may get bitten. Players may genuinely unwind and enjoy themselves in a garage because it offers acoustic serenity for all ears.

TV

Make sure you choose some basic essentials and creature comforts that will make your room a nice place to be in before choosing that TV or radio. A lot can be changed by changing the flooring, wall covering, and window treatments. Choices ought to be long-lasting, resilient to the elements, and durable.

Pool Table (semi-permanent)

You should try installing a pool table in your garage as well. Let’s be real here. The majority of us do not live in homes that have living rooms large enough to accommodate a full-size pool table in addition to a couch, TV, and other furnishings. A garage is a fantastic substitute. It can survive for years with the right maintenance. Outdoor pool tables are sometimes found at pubs and bars that are open to the elements, including snow and rain. However, they continue to last. There is no justification for being hesitant about placing a table in your garage.

You have a lot more possibilities for games when you have your own pool table. You are not constrained by the opening times of your neighborhood pool hall. You are free to play whenever you choose, day or night. Anytime you wish, you can invite your buddies over to play. There is no need to wait for a table to open up. No matter how crowded the pubs are that night, you can still play. Since you can fit in a game of pool during any idle time, you can practice a lot.

 

High Tech

The garage is frequently overlooked when homes are upgraded. Maybe having a simple, low-tech garage is enough for you. But if you enjoy the comfort and security that technological improvements provide for your home, you might also want to install some of the same technology in your garage considering that it can also boost the value of your home. Check out a few cutting-edge additions to your garage that you might wish to make. 

Security Cameras

We do suggest beginning with this type of improvement and upgrades in your garage. Upgrade your security before purchasing a ton of fun new items for your garage. Having a new tool or toy taken before you can use it or enjoy it is the most demoralizing experience. One other depressing thought is that you could have done anything to better preserve it, but you chose not to.

Get fresh locks for all of your doors and frames as your first action. A good and affordable place to start is with a sliding deadbolt to secure your overhead door and basic sliding window locks.

Installing intelligent exterior lights with HD cameras that you can control and see remotely is a great method to ward off criminals and keep your garage and property secure. Ring makes an excellent outdoor light and camera package that is simple to operate and integrates with both your garage security system and its well-liked smart doorbell.

Smart Garage Door Opener 

The garage door is a logical place to begin. There are a number of smart garage doors on the market, and they have already been available for a while, but they continue to advance in intelligence and security. Your garage is connected to the Internet of Things by a smart garage door opener. 

By using an app on your smartphone to operate the door, you can stop worrying about losing your garage door opener. Have you ever left for work and immediately regretted not closing the garage door? With a smart opener, you might be able to remotely check on the entrance and close it from your computer or program it to close on its own after a predetermined period of inactivity. You no longer need to worry about it, regardless of what happens. 

With a smart door opener, you may remotely close the door as well as remotely open the door. So you are able to unlock the garage door without disrupting the rest of the day to let somebody in if your adolescent locks themselves out of the residence or you’re expecting a gift that you would prefer to be kept outdoors. 

Wi-Fi extenders

It’s safe to bring your garage gradually into the twenty-first century now that it is safe. A mesh system, which essentially casts a secure “net” of Wi-Fi coverage across your entire property, is the ideal approach to obtain a clear and robust Wi-Fi connection in your garage. There are many different types, so you can research which Wi-Fi extender best suits your requirements.

Parking aid

Determining the distance into the garage to pull your car is perhaps the toughest obstacle when doing it at home. Knowing the distance to one of the sides of your garage your car is is the other major concern. The following are a few of the parking aids that DIYers have tried:

• a tennis ball strung from the ceiling on a string; when it brushes your windshield, you are close enough.
• securing a paint brush or broom head to the driver-side wall (you’ll know you’ve crossed the line when your mirror hits the bristles)
• putting colorful reflective tape on the walls of your garage to correspond with a predetermined spot on your car
• using a wood block as a stop sign on your floor
• using worn-out couch cushions, attaching thick carpet or foam padding to the walls, or

These inexpensive home garage parking aids can certainly work to some extent, but for two reasons they might not be what you’re looking for.

These antiquated parking aids look terrible first and foremost. These do-it-yourself projects will only make your garage look less appealing. That’s not ideal, especially if you’ve spent money on a garage renovation that includes a brand-new coating for the garage floor.

The second deterrent to using homemade garage parking aids is that they are frequently unreliable. Tennis ball hanging there has a chance of falling off the thread or being bumped around. Additionally, if wood blocks are not correctly fastened, they may slide or break.

If you don’t like DIY parking aids, there are a lot of other options available both online and in stores. Among the most popular options for easy parking are wireless car cameras. Parking cameras, backing cameras, reversing cameras, and rearview cameras are some of the titles given to these.

Another choice to think about would be wireless parking sensors. When your car is too close to another item, a sensor integrated into a license plate frame talks with a smartphone app to give auditory, visual, and vibration alerts.

Laser parking aids are another cutting-edge residential garage parking assist that is becoming more and more common. These convenient gadgets have a movable laser beam that directs you to park safely and are mounted in your garage.

Tesla owners have access to a variety of cutting-edge parking assistance. Parking sensors, rearview cameras, and an automatic folding side mirror function are all standard on the Tesla Model S. Additionally, certain models offer a “Summon” function that will park the car in your garage without your assistance.

Indicators that are placed on your garage floor fall within the category of commercially available parking aids that are more low-tech. There are various varieties of these that let you know whether you’re in the proper parking spot, including mats or bump/stoppers. The drawback of these assistance is that if they aren’t secured to your floor, they may move.

Maximize Storage

Overhead storage racks

According to La Fond, mounted overhead racks are yet another excellent way to raise objects off the ground. They are ideal for keeping seasonal things and plastic totes that you don’t use frequently. They come in a range of sizes to match any area—if your overhead space is constrained, you can even buy corner racks! Consider how well this might serve as a hiding spot for all those holiday decorations.

Wall Shelves

Garage storage opportunities are lost if hooks, brackets, and other hardware are mounted simply on studs. Try covering the drywall or exposed studs with a layer of plywood to provide a continuous surface for fastening. By doing this, you may mount shelves (like this pair of wire racks) and organize your belongings efficiently without having to worry about where the studs are.

Cabinets

To increase the storage capacity for organizing your garage, you can add hooks, cabinets, baskets, and shelves. You may store everything from mops to bound extension wires.

Bike rack

Always choose objects that have multiple uses. With space for helmets and other accessories on the shelf, a bike rack can be the ideal solution for keeping all bikes out of the way.

Car Lift

To make the most of their limited space, mechanics and parking garages require a dependable and affordable car storage lift solution. Car storage lifts are useful for any size shop and many household garages since they can accommodate multiple automobiles at once in a compact configuration. By raising cars off your work surface, parking lifts make the most of the garage’s floor space while also enhancing safety and maneuverability. Parking lifts come in a variety of capacities, so there are solutions available for both residential and business use that may help you make the most of your storage space.

Slatwall

Another excellent approach to get objects off the ground is to use a slatwall solution. Slatwall panels are fastened directly to garage walls, maximizing storage space in every available square inch.

Peg Boards

Slatwall and pegboard are the two major alternatives you’ll find when selecting a garage wall storage system to make the most of your wall storage space. Both let you mount panels up to 4′ x 8′ on the walls of your garage.

Boost curb appeal 

A property’s curb appeal is determined by how it looks and how it blends into its surroundings when viewed from the street. Therefore, a home’s front door, siding, windows, and roof are just a few of the components that contribute to curb appeal.

One aspect of curb appeal that is frequently disregarded is the garage. But it does play a large role, particularly in more contemporary homes where the garage has moved from being in the rear by the alley to being front and center and taking up a sizable portion of the façade.

How can you make your garage’s outside more appealing? There are multiple strategies to improve its appearance and encourage a more appealing appearance in the eyes of a customer or visitor. 

Get new garage door or opt for repaint

The most damage is directed towards garage doors. For many homes, the front door and the garage are the points of entry that get used the most. This is particularly true if you use the garage frequently. Even unused garages that are solely used for storage, meanwhile, eventually become neglected.

Your garage’s outside appearance can be significantly increased by updating its doors. If at all possible, avoid skipping out on the money here. The exterior is improved and new garage doors are designed to last for decades. Remember that the majority of the building’s front is taken up by the garage doors.

If you don’t have the money to replace your garage door entirely, you might want to think about painting or staining the building instead. You’ll be astonished at what a new coat of paint can do for a house, especially if you put in the time and effort to prepare the surface by removing any old, chipped paint and fixing any flaws.

Cleanup Outside of Garage 

Lastly, don’t forget about cleaning the inside and also the outside of your garage. Sometimes, a thorough cleaning can do a lot more just like when replacing other stuff in your home so make sure that you don’t let this free upgrade go and clean up as much as you can!