Clean, painted, and well-kept garages last years longer and help improve home value and curb appeal. They can also be used for various other purposes if maintained properly.
Garages are ugly. Maybe not all of them are ugly,
but large majorities have been woefully neglected, left to rust, crack, and decay while the rest of the house garners all of the attention. While you may not think or care much about the overall appearance of your garage, it does have an effect on the value and curb appeal of your entire house.
You may not notice it, but that doesn't mean your neighbors, friends, or a potential buyer or renter won't. Fortunately, a little maintenance and beautification every now and then can go a long way.
Maintaining and cleaning garages is much easier than your own home, as long as you keep things organized. A car storage space with little clutter can easily be swept up, hosed down, and repainted every few years to keep it looking fresh.
If you have too much clutter, however, you'll probably find these tasks are much more difficult. The best way to improve your car storage space is to designate them for the primary purpose of sheltering your vehicle and the secondary purpose of extra storage. There should be plenty of room for one or two cars, depending on the size, as well as a work area for oil and tire changes, or other small repairs.
Any leftover room should then be allocated to organized storage, which means well-packed and labeled boxes of items that either have sentimental value or are used fairly regularly such as sporting equipment and holiday decorations. If you haven't used or thought about an object you find buried in your car storage space for over a year, it might be time to sell or donate it.
Once you've got everything organized and tidied up, you'll want to make some minor repairs if necessary. Check the walls and floors for cracks, dents and holes. Spackle and sand these smooth. It's important to keep your vehicle parking space sealed off from potential pests like rodents, so fix any broken grates or gaps the best you can. Check the frame and door to ensure that they are in working order and there is no damage.
The nicest vehicle parking area are those that are not only clean and organized, but that blend in with the exterior of the house. Your vehicle parking space should match the paint and trim of your home, not only in color but in age. If you had your house repainted but neglected the car storage space, you'll find the colors are off and won't look complimentary due to weathering.
Garages are easy to paint, just remember to use weatherproof or outdoor paint. It's also important to clean the outside of the car storage space using a pressure cleaner or similar so that any built up grime is removed and the paint can be applied evenly.
Clean and attractive car storage space can greatly improve your home's value, which will be especially important if you ever plan on selling or renting. Well-appointed and secure vehicle storage area also can help dissuade potential thieves from attempting to break in. So, next time you're ready to make some house upgrades, consider starting with the garage.
