Not All Garages Are Created Equal
When I’m working with a buyer, one of the things they are frequently looking for is a home with a garage. Typically they don’t care if the garage is attached to the house or detached. They just want to have a garage. Most buyers think they will park their car in the garage. Buyers are always curious why many of the garages we see are filled with stuff, but no cars. Lawn mowers, bikes, sports equipment, patio furniture in the off season, strollers. It’s all jammed in there, with no room for a car. I explain that the sellers probably initially wanted a garage for their car too, but eventually life and all of its accompanying junk took over. The buyer says that will never happen to them. Sure, sure…
Over time I’ve learned that not all garages are created equal. Many people drive SUVs and when houses were built in the earlier decades of the 20th century, they just weren’t equipped for the behemoths that some drive today. Hence the buyer’s car will never fit in the garage, rendering it not-a-garage-but-a-big-storage-room to them. Other tell tale signs there will be trouble is when you see the wall of the garage lined with foam padding. That’s so the driver of the car doesn’t smash their door when they’re squeezing out because there isn’t adequate space to maneuver. So we continue searching for houses with a more sizeable garage.
I also scratch my head at garages that are advertised as 2-car, but are really only 2-car if you have 2 Mini Coopers. This is not a 2-car garage. Please don’t advertise it as one. You’re not tricking anyone.
A lovely garage, if there is such a thing, is one where you can comfortably open your car doors and also have some space for a storage area. I find that these are few and far between in most of the towns that I work in, but they are out there. Now, if sellers could just keep from completely filling them with junk so that they show well when they’re trying to sell their homes…
All I know is I wouldn’t want to live across the street from THAT garage!
Good points. But are people really trying to fool you by listing their 2 car garages as such? How else is a 2 car garage supposed to be listed? Can’t buyers just assume that if a house is of a certain age, they won’t be able to park their SUV in the garage? We park our full size Acura and Honda sedans in our small old 1930 garage, along with some large cabinets and even a folding utility trailer. It’s probably too much of a squeeze for some people, but it works for us.
Mat- I knew you would comment on this post. I wondered if you saw me on the sidewalk taking the picture.
For those not in the know, Mat owns the home across the street from this Garage looking for a good home.
Peter- Thanks for the comment. I’ve seen several instances where there are garages that have one big door and it’s really a 1.5 car garage and it’s listed as a 2-car. You stand there outside looking at it scratching your head saying “Could you really fit 2 cars in there?”
Your garage situation sounds typical for a 1930s house. It’s great you can park both of your cars and have storage room. We have no garage, so I have all sorts of garage envy.
I didn’t think it was a big deal being somewhat new to winter, but now I am in love. Our garage is attached and under our house (half of the basement, house on a small hill). Even on the coldest winter days, it doesn’t go below 48 degrees. Perfect for storing wine and avoiding one of the un-pleasantries of winter.
Oh, and we noticed the barn doors that open out give much more overhead clearance (6-8″) than the garage doors that roll up.