Why You Should Update Your Garage Before Listing Your Home for Sale

Getting ready to sell your home? You may be tempted to tackle every update you ever dreamed of doing while you lived in the home. It makes sense, as it’s easy to think that whatever money you put into improvements, you’ll earn back in value when buyers make an offer. 

The reality, however, is that this is rarely the case. In fact, major projects, like full-room renovations, generally have the lowest ROI of any home improvements. 

That’s why sticking to small, functional improvements is a smarter way to go—and this especially applies to your garage. 

While some updates will definitely help you sell your home faster and for more money, there’s no need to go all out with a fully finished garage. Here’s what you need to know about updating your garage before you sell. 

Focus on storage

Buyers usually want just two things out of their garages: they want a place to keep their cars and a place to keep their stuff. 

So if your garage is just one big room with all of your stuff in piles on the floor, it’s probably time to add in some storage shelves. 

These don’t need to be anything fancy—you don’t need to hire a contractor to create built-ins. Instead, this can be an easy DIY garage update. Just pick up some plastic, wooden, or metal shelving from a home improvement or organizing store, and set it up on one side of your space. 

Once you’ve added your shelves, use them! Fill them up with your own items that need storage, and keep everything tidy during showings. 

Declutter

When you’re decluttering your home pre-listing, don’t neglect your garage. Especially if you use it to store seasonal or outdoor items, there are bound to be things you don’t need and won’t use again. 

You can use the three-box organizing system popular with so many home organizers: get one box labeled “Toss,” one labeled “Donate,” and one labeled “Keep.” As you go through each item, put it in the appropriate box. Then it’s a good idea to get both the Toss and Donate items out of your house quickly—that will prevent you from changing your mind and keeping more than you should.

Clean the space thoroughly and add decent lighting

If you’re like most homeowners, cleaning your garage is pretty low on the priority list. Change that now! Buyers love seeing a sparkling clean home, and that includes the garage. 

To get your garage shipshape, it’s a good idea to start with the floors. Move your cars out, and sweep out any debris. Then, you can just dishwasher detergent or a concrete cleaner to clean the floor with a brush or mop. 

Finally, consider finishing the floor with a water-based epoxy finish to protect it from further staining. Add in some LED lights to replace the fluorescent ones or single bulbs you have currently, and your garage will look better than it ever has before! 

Updating your garage can be a great idea when you’re selling your home. Just focus on these small things, and you’re bound to reap solid rewards.