Living without a garage may not initially feel like you’re missing out on significant life experiences. That said, over time it can make a difference to your day-to-day convenience. First and foremost, there’s the peace of mind you get from having a place to keep your vehicle safe and away from the elements.

A garage can do more, though. Gone are the days when this building was simply your car’s bedroom with perhaps a little storage for paint cans and tools. With some mindful planning and taking stock of your needs, you can design a space that boosts various areas of your lifestyle.

Let’s explore some of the multifaceted benefits of adding a garage to your home.

Property Value

One of the most common benefits of any addition is the potential to raise the resale price of the property. If your property doesn’t already have one, a garage can increase property value by around $34,000. Not to mention that buyer preferences for homes with garages can mean that it may make your home easier to sell. A garage provides additional security for costly vehicles, for starters. Additionally, garages tend to provide additional storage and recreation space.

That said, it’s important to recognize that there’s never a guaranteed level of property value improvement with a garage. You need to make some well-considered choices if your primary intention is to boost the price you can put your home on the market for.

These may include:

• Integrity: Make sure your garage has solid structural integrity. It should be a resilient outbuilding that can withstand the extremes of weather in your part of the country.

• Appearance: Think about how consistent the garage’s appearance is with the rest of your home. If the design is incongruous or not aesthetically appealing, it may impact buyer engagement.

• Amenities: Consider how buyers may want to use the garage and what amenities best support this. Security equipment, storage solutions, and washer or dryer connections could make a difference.

Throughout your consideration of elements that might boost value, you should keep a strict eye on your costs. While an all-singing and all-dancing garage may seem appealing, the rise in value may not be comparable to your outlay. Do your research here and find ways to make construction more cost-effective.

Practical Resources

Aside from property value, a garage has the potential to improve your quality of life. This is because it’s a practical tool to support a range of activities. With careful design considerations, you can make the space work a little harder for you and your family.

Some of the additional or alternative practical uses for a garage include:

• Office: Whether you’re an entrepreneur, occasionally working remotely, or homeschooling your kids, it’s important to have a space to operate in comfortably. You can outfit your garage or part of it with furniture to make a practical home office.

• Gym: Getting regular exercise is important. However, you might find it difficult or not particularly cost-effective to regularly go to the gym. Therefore you can outfit your garage to be a convenient exercise space that is suited to your specific workout needs.  

• Creative studio: If you do messy or noisy creative activities, the inside of your home may not be the most suitable place to make art. Therefore, you might consider establishing a portion of your garage to function as a creative studio.  

It’s important not to treat these practical uses as an afterthought, though. The earlier you can identify the possibilities for your garage, the more effectively you can adapt your architectural plans to incorporate these. 

For instance, if you’re using the space as an office or gym, you’ll need insulation, heating, and air conditioning. If you plan to record music, you might require soundproofing. Wherever possible, download CAD models of the features you’ll need to integrate into your garage, so you can test them in the blueprint and make informed decisions about the space.

Sustainability Efforts

Sustainability is a priority for many property owners today and with good reason. The day-to-day choices you make can impact the environment now and in the future. One of the overlooked benefits of adding a garage is that it can support your sustainability efforts.

Some aspects to consider include:

• Electric vehicle charging: Finding a place to charge your electric car is one of the challenges of this green form of transport. While external and public chargers are becoming more prevalent, you’re likely to find it more practical to set up a station at home. Designing your garage to be a charging space for your car is relatively simple. A 120v outlet close to where you park the vehicle is usually sufficient, though a 240v outlet will reduce charging times. 

• Composting and recycling: Reusing your household resources responsibly is a key to sustainability. However, not every kitchen or yard has enough space for a compost bin or recycling containers for each type of material. It can be helpful to design your garage to have an integrated storage space to make composting and recycling easier and cleaner.  

If you’re dedicated to sustainability, you should also consider using more eco-friendly methods to build your garage. Use renewable building materials wherever possible. Work with contractors that use electric vehicles and tools. Avoid paints that contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are toxic to the environment. This consideration ensures your garage is more holistically sustainable.

Conclusion

Adding a garage to your property offers a range of potential benefits. It can add value to your home, support practical activities, and enhance sustainability. Nevertheless, getting the most out of these benefits requires a commitment to careful planning. 

Dedicate time to drafting a few architectural plans to see what best fits your needs. Understand your priorities so you can scale back mindfully if some elements aren’t practical or affordable. The more time you spend up-front on your garage plans, the better outcomes you’re likely to enjoy.

Author: Miles Oliver

Cover image by Max Rahubovskiy on Pexels