First things first, if your home doesn’t already have a garage, and yours is the only house in the neighborhood without one, you’d be better off building one.
Building A New Garage 101
If you don’t have a garage, the cost of building one will be the first thing you’ll think about. According to HomeGuide, it costs around $35-$60 per square foot to build a garage in LA at current prices. Generally speaking, you can expect to spend about $50/sq. ft., which comes down to $10,500-$27,000 for a single-car garage, and $14,500-$40,300 for a two-car option.
Additional factors that impact the overall price include:
- Insulation and drywall (spray foam insulation is more expensive than blown-in insulation)
- Materials (metal, brick veneer, cinder block, and brick are popular options)
- The type of garage door and garage door opener
- The type of garage storage system (custom vs. ready-made)
- The type of flooring you choose (epoxy garage flooring is the most popular option)
The next factor to think about is whether you should build an attached or detached/freestanding garage. An attached garage costs about 10-15% less than a detached structure of the same size. Your lot size and your home’s layout will obviously be major determining factors here. Since an attached garage shares a wall with your existing home, it is cheaper to make. But if attaching the garage to your house poses any major construction issues, this cost-saving will go down.
Many homeowners prefer a detached garage as it keeps all the dirt, dust, and fumes out of the main house. But if you live in a location that’s prone to extreme weather events, we recommend an attached garage so you can get into your vehicle without having to step outside. You can have a basic garage built in as little as $10,000. It may sound expensive but a) the appraisal value of your house after building it can increase by as much as $30,000, and b) as renovation projects go, it is fairly inexpensive.
Why Renovating Your Existing Garage Is A Good Idea?
The addition of a garage can provide several benefits for homeowners in Del Mar Heights. It provides shelter for cars and added garage storage space for tools, equipment, seasonal clothing, and many other household items.
This is why when a potential homebuyer with a family looks for a house, they prefer the benefit of having extra storage space in the garage. By adding a garage (if you don’t have one), or installing a sophisticated garage cabinet system, you can increase your equity and boost your ROI when selling your house.
Let’s talk about these benefits in detail:
#Your Real Estate Value And Return On Investment
It is estimated that a functional and finished garage can add $5,000-$25,000 worth of value to a house in California. According to Remodeling Magazine, a detached two-car garage costs about $50,000 to build and recoups nearly 65% at resale. A garage that includes a specialty garage storage system and top-notch epoxy garage flooring brings a typical return of about 55% no matter the market!
#Your Overall Savings
The true value of upgrading your garage isn’t just noticeable in the resale value of your home. There are a variety of ways in which you can recoup the cost of adding/renovating the garage. For example, a garage eliminates the risk of burglaries and weather-related damage to your vehicles. And if you invest in good-quality garage storage cabinets, you don’t have to purchase or rent a storage unit somewhere.
You can also use this space for work – be it office work, woodworking shop, or something else – without having to hire an outside contractor. Even if you have no plans to sell your home right now, think about these cost-recouping benefits when considering a garage upgrade.
#Making an Impression
Your garage is a useful space where you can store pretty much anything. So, it’s no wonder that a garage also tends to be the most cluttered space in a house. And we don’t need to tell you that a cluttered garage does not leave a good impression on potential homebuyers in Del Mar Heights.
For most people shopping around for a home, one look in the garage gives them a clear picture of the maintenance and organizational habits of the homeowner. By enhancing your garage with a well-thought-out garage storage system, you’ll attract more serious homebuyers who are willing to pay extra.
Plan for this in the beginning; install garage cabinets, Slatwall panels, overhead racks, and other concealed storage solutions. Whether your garage is used for recreation, work, or storage, make sure it is easy to keep clean and stays organized with minimal effort.
Create A Functional Garage & Reap A Better ROI
Whether you design a garage that is a customized fitness room, man cave, or home office, or it is strictly for your car and storage of random stuff, the key is to make it usable and comfortable. Prospective buyers may decide to change up the space to use for a purpose, but its usability will be an attractive selling point.
Adding a garage or upgrading your existing one will do more than increase the assessed value of your home. It will boost your property’s curb appeal to the interested buyers and make it a more worthwhile purchase – we all know extra storage space in Bel Air and Los Angeles as a whole is not cheap to come by!
Again, if you’re not looking to sell, you can still give yourself the gift of a finished garage. It will add useful garage cabinet systems, workspace, and play space to your home that your family can enjoy for years to come.
Our Garage Excell experts can help you design your new garage and bring it to life. Our garage designers will not only help you plan out a garage build but also make sure you stay within budget without having to sacrifice your vision for the new addition. We specialize in garage makeovers and can help you put together the space you want, incorporating the details and garage storage options that will make this room a true asset to your house.
For more information about Garage Excell’s innovative and personalized garage remodeling services, give us a call at 877-573-6637 or set up a free consultation online.
