Does a Garage Add Value to your Home?

Adding a garage to your home has many benefits. Not only does it provide a place to park your vehicle and room to store tools or seasonal machinery, but a garage is also an attractive feature for homebuyers. According to Kiplinger, 85% of homebuyers are looking for a home with a garage. However, if you add a garage with the intent of selling your home, how much of your investment should you expect to get back? Let’s look at two different garage projects and find out.

We’ll start with simply replacing your current garage door. This project continues to be one of the top-ranking home improvements for the money. You can expect to recoup roughly 97% of your costs for a mid-range to upscale replacement. Think about how that compares to a kitchen remodel, normally talked about as one of the highest return on investment (ROI) for renovation projects, at only 80.5% ROI and a much higher price tag.

The ROI on a full garage build is a little more complicated to estimate. There are many factors involved which makes it harder to gauge. Will it be attached or detached, finished or unfinished, heated or unheated, and how many bays will it have? Keeping in mind that these factors will sway the cost higher or lower, depending on what you choose, according to homeguide.com the average cost to build a garage is $49 per square foot, or somewhere between $20,000 and $30,000 overall. If that fits within your budget and you are able to tackle that project, you should expect to see around an 80% ROI.

Many experts agree that adding a garage makes your home more attractive to homebuyers. Not everyone is in the position to spend upwards of $30,000 on a large project in order to sell their home, but if you are, then it’s a smart investment and will add a good dose of desirability and curb appeal. If you have a garage and it needs some upgrades, say a new garage door, then your best bet is to replace it. You’ll get almost all of that money back and your home will be more attractive to potential buyers.

Garage Door Windows

If you’re in the market for a new garage door, one of the main features to decide on is windows. Garage doors with windows have been gaining popularity over the last decade because of the curb appeal they add to homes. Garage door windows complement any home’s aesthetic, from traditional to contemporary or anything in between.

Natural Light

If you use your garage as a workspace— for automotive repairs or as a home office— garage door windows can brighten up the space by allowing natural light in. Choose from horizontal or vertical windows in a style that matches your home’s aesthetic. Or go for a full view door, one that’s comprised entirely of windows. Then decide if you want the glass tinted or frosted for privacy. You’ll be thrilled by how much light a few windows let in.

Curb Appeal

Your garage door and garage door windows are an extension of your home’s aesthetic. There are loads of designs available to match any style. Use the color of the door and add custom window inserts to create drama. If you already have garage doors, but want to update your look, consider changing out a panel for one with windows.

Security

It’s true that a windowless garage door is more secure— there’s no way for a burglar to peek in— but there are ways you can style the windows on your garage door to make them safer. Frosted glass is available through most manufacturers, but there are also DIY ways to frost glass using spray paint, window film, or etching. If you don’t care for the frosted look, try tinted windows. There are different degrees of tints — from slightly shaded to almost opaque.

If you don’t want to frost or tint the glass and live in an area where security is a priority, then be sure to place the windows in the top panel of the garage door to keep people from peeping in. You can also opt for smaller windows, making it harder to view what’s inside.

Garage door windows add value and curb appeal to your home. If your existing doors are windowless, you may be able to replace a panel with a windowed panel. But you’ll need to check the spring system to ensure it can handle the extra weight. Contact us, we can help decide the next steps in your garage door upgrade or replacement.

5 Common Garage Door FAQs

We’re committed to offering the highest quality customer service in the southern Vermont, southwestern New Hampshire and Franklin County, Massachusetts areas. But we know that sometimes you have a question and just want a quick answer without having to pick up the phone. That’s why for this week’s blog, we put together a list of garage door faqs.

Why does my garage door start going down and then suddenly reverse?

If you are having this problem while using the remote control or the HomeLink control in your vehicle, then it is probably an issue with the photo eyes on the safety sensors. To test this, push and hold the wall control and see if the door operates properly. The safety sensors automatically reverse the direction of the door if something passes under it while it’s closing. Sometimes a spider web or other debris covers the photo eye and prevents the door from closing. Clear the obstruction and try using the remote or HomeLink again.

I backed into the garage door because I thought it was up. Do you sell individual door sections or do I need to purchase a whole new door?

This happens more often than you think! Yes, we can replace sections on many garage doors. We’d need to assess the door and connecting parts for the extent of damage in order to make an educated recommendation for replacing part or all of the door.

Do you sell replacement hardware for garage doors?

We do sell replacement hardware. Some styles and colors may not be available depending on the age, but we will do our best to get what you need.

My garage remote control is not working, what do I do?

Sounds like it’s time to change the batteries. Most remotes have a battery cover on the back. Remove the cover and the battery, replace it with a new battery, making sure it is facing the correct position (usually positive side up). It is good practice to check the battery contacts at this time to make sure they are clean.

Can I get an estimate for garage doors over the phone?

Yes! But remember that it is just that— an estimate. We believe that it is best for us to go to the job to measure the opening and discuss the different styles available, but are happy to give you a quote over the phone as long as you provide us with the exact measurements and style you are looking for.

Hopefully, you were able to get your question answered with this list. If you didn’t find the answer you needed, please contact us today!

DIY Haunted House

Halloween is right around the corner and if you have been wanting to do something to give your friends and neighbors a fright, then keep reading! We’ve got some spook-tacular ideas for turning your garage into a haunted house that you won’t want to miss.

Clean it out

The first step to creating a haunted house in your garage is to clean it out and make space. This is a great time to check out some of the overhead storage systems we mentioned in an earlier blog (pardon the shameless plug). Tidy up, sweep the floor, and if needed, move some of the larger items (think lawnmower) out until November 1. The goal here is to create the most space possible and to prevent guests from tripping over tools or garden supplies.

Spook It Up

Here’s the fun part, coming up with the plan and figuring out what kind of haunted house props you will use. Do you like super scary mazes where monsters and ghouls pop out of every corner? Or do you prefer a tamer spiderweb and blacklight haunted house? Maybe you want a movie or tv show themed haunted house.

Whatever you prefer, you can start off with covering up workbenches and shelving with black tarps or gardening fabric. Replace your overhead lights with blacklights or flicker bulbs. Synthetic spiderwebs come in a myriad of colors and stretch to fit any area. Spanish moss, white sheets, and tea-dipped cheesecloth will give it that someone-used-to-live-here-but-now-it’s-haunted vibe. Conceal any daylight by blacking out the windows with construction paper.

Depending on your budget, you can purchase a life-size Halloween fiend or make your own. There are so many to choose from— some light up, some make noise, and some jump at you when you least expect it. In this same vein, you can enlist a family member to dress like one of these creatures of the night to pop out at people and give them a good scare.

Don’t forget the floor and ceiling. Rats, mice, spiders, and bloody hand- or footprints will add to the horror. Hang bats from the ceiling just low enough to brush someone’s head and give them a scare. Blow in some fog to up the creepy-factor.

And of course, you need pumpkins or gourds of some sort. Carved as jack-o-lanterns or left as nature intended, nothing says Halloween quite like a pumpkin. You can stick with traditional orange, or paint them black or white to complete your scary ensemble. Fake pumpkins are great if you host a Halloween party year after year, and many of them can be carved just like the real thing.

Make Some Noise

One can’t make a haunted house on decorations alone. A chilling soundtrack will really set the mood and bring out the goosebumps. Bluetooth speakers in the corners of the garage will create an immersive experience for your guests. Think about the tone you want to set and go from there. Maybe you want to keep it light for younger guests or perhaps the adult-only crowd needs a scare. Not sure what to pick? A quick internet search will land loads of Halloween song lists– choose your favorite and set it on a loop.

Invite Your Friends

Now that you’ve completed your garage haunted house, you need suckers people for scaring. Plan a party for the weekend before trick-or-treating and invite friends and family. Have everyone bring a spooky snack or beverage to share. Then, if you made your garage a true house of horrors, tone it down (if needed) and get ready for the trick-or-treaters. You know how tame you need to be judging by the age and number of children in your neighborhood.

Halloween is a fun time of year for children and adults and a garage haunted house will bring everyone together. Be sure to have some candy on hand to give out, especially to the poor souls who may have found your haunted house a little too frightening!

She Sheds

Men aren’t the only ones who crave a space of their own. A place to escape to when the going gets tough (read: the kids get rowdy) and you need some peace and quiet. In the times before everything had a cute moniker, you might have called these places hangouts, workrooms, or studios. But nowadays, if the room has been claimed by the man in the family, it is a man cave and by the woman, a she shed.

What can a she shed be used for, you ask? Well, really anything you’d like. Gardening, painting, reading, crafts, guests — the list could go on for miles.

Here are a few ideas for she shed designs that can be modified to fit your style and budget.

Guest house

Do you have frequent overnight guests and no guest bedroom? Create an oasis for your guests in your garage to give them (and you) the privacy they crave. Creating a she shed guest house is relatively easy and will fit most budgets.

Make sure your space is insulated against the heat and cold and has adequate ventilation. Smoke detectors are a must in any sleeping quarters. If your budget allows, add a small bathroom (even a half bath would be nice!) and kitchenette for the ultimate guest experience. Finish off the space with homey furnishings—bed, night stands, lamps, and small dresser— that will make your guest feel welcome.

Artist’s Studio

Do you crave a space where your creative juices can run freely? A she shed provides a great place for your artistic pursuits whether they be painting, writing, crafting, or sewing. Separate yourself from the day to day household chores and allow yourself to focus on the task in front of you.

The most important aspect of an artist’s studio is light. Consider adding a full view garage door — frosted, if you want privacy— to make the most of the natural light. You’ll also want enough storage for all of your supplies if you are a visual artist or a comfortable chair and desk. if you are a writer. Design your room around these key pieces, everything else is secondary.

Potting Shed

Are your gardening tools and plant pots taking over your car’s spot in the garage? Maybe it’s time to fully commit the space to your green thumb endeavors. This is usually one of the easiest garage transformations because your space is probably going to get a little dirty anyway, so why bother stocking it with the best and newest furnishings? A couple of heavy duty workstations, tool storage, and some shelves and you are in business!

Home Office

Are you working on the next big business idea? Get the peace and quiet you deserve in the garage. To create a basic she shed home office, all you need is a desk, chair, and a light. Of course, you can (and should) add other items to create a more productive and aesthetically pleasing space. A rug, bookcase, and wall hangings complete the look.

You may remember our recent blog about four companies that started in a garage. Maybe your company will be the next addition to this list?

A she shed garage makeover takes a little time, money, and planning, but the results are so worth it. Set aside a weekend and create your ultimate hideaway.