By Brooke Chaplan
It’s no secret that garages are one of the best places to store your belongings, and they come in handy when you’re working on personal DIY projects. Whether you’re looking to list your home or just want to prepare your garage so you can use it more efficiently, it’s important to make sure everything in there is organized, clean and ready to use. Here are a few tips on how to get your garage ready for a listing:
Sort Through Unused Items
If you have way too much stuff in your garage, start by taking some time to go through it all. What’s really worth keeping? If you haven’t used an item in six months or more, maybe you should let it go. Take everything out of your garage and sort through it, because that alone can immediately make your garage feel cleaner and bigger. Then, donate or throw away anything you don’t need or don’t plan on using again.
Repair the Garage Door
It’s not uncommon for older garage doors to be in need of some TLC. If your door is damaged, start with repairs. This will make your home look more appealing and protect you from any unexpected mishaps down the road. For any major repairs, be sure to always call on a professional. However, be sure you get multiple estimates so you can find one that fits within your budget. Once repairs are complete, clean up any clutter around your doorway; garages attract rodents and spiders, so taking care of these issues will put potential buyers at ease.
Replace the Lighting
If you’re listing your home, it may be shown after the sun goes down. The last thing you want are potential buyers having trouble navigating dark spaces in your garage. To brighten things up, switch out traditional incandescent bulbs with an LED light strip or fixture. A single strip of LEDs can provide up to eight feet of illumination and they also produce very little heat which means they won’t burn off any vinyl on your cabinets.
Declutter Your Garage
Organizing is also a must if you plan to list your garage. Not only will that give your home better Feng Shui (people like seeing unused spaces), but it also frees up valuable square footage that can be rented out or used as storage space for your business. If there are any items that you can use in your listing, think about including them in the offer.
Although your garage may not be the first place most people think of when they look at homes, they’re actually important to prospective buyers. Keep these tips in mind to make your garage more appealing!
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger based in New Mexico. Her first passion is journalism, but she also loves hiking and gardening. Brooke recommends working with a professional like the Raynor Door Company when handling garage door repairs. Find her on writer and Facebook: @BrookeChaplan; https://www.facebook.com/brooke.chaplan
