Depending on who you ask in a family, a garage has a various degree of importance.  Some people like to keep their garages for storing cars and tools while others like to use them as an extension of the indoor living space.  Because garages are used differently, as a seller, it’s important to keep this space as much of a blank slate as possible.  Easier said than done, right?  If you are thinking of moving in the near future, the garage is an excellent place to start your prep work.  Here are some tips for making this space appealing to buyers who come to tour your Locust Grove home.

Step One:  Declutter

During the moving process the garage can become a holding area for packed boxes, bags of items that need to be donated, and a great loading area for the moving truck on a rainy day.  Before all of these things start filling your garage, start doing a declutter of the space.  

Items in the garage are often heavy or bulky, so taking a moment to think about what you really want to take to your next home and what can be donated or trashed is wise.  Items like paint for the colors in your current home, extra pieces of flooring, screens for windows don’t need to travel to your new Locust Grove home.  

Think about where you are moving to and consider what tools you might need; for example you might not need that large zero turn mower for your new backyard.  Going south?  Say goodbye to the snow shovels or blower.

While you are decluttering, you can also start boxing up items that aren’t going to be used and clearly label the boxes, so it’s easy to know what is inside.

Step Two:  Lighting

While it might not be the first thing on your mind when you go into a garage, bright lighting can help make this space more appealing.  Whether your buyer loves to work on cars at home or just wants to head inside after a long day at work, having bright lights help to make the space feel welcoming.  (Of course this is after you’ve given the floor a good scrub and knocked the cobwebs from the corners.)

Step Three: Clean

Yes, even the garage needs a little cleaning.  Dust build up on the walls and behind shelving in this room.  The good news…you can use a leaf blower to push a lot of the dust outside and then you’ll be ready for the next step.

Step Four: Painting

If your garage has finished walls, a fresh coat of white paint on the walls goes a long way to helping to up its appeal.  If the floor of the garage is looking rough from years of use, then you can also consider adding a specialty paint to the floor too.

Step Five:  Create Zones with Organization

Garages can hold a lot of things like tools, yard maintenance things, toys, camping gear, bikes, and more.  After decluttering, use shelving and hooks to define different areas within the space of your Locust Grove home.  Hang bikes on the wall.  Center all the tools around a tool box or workbench.  Remember, buyers are going to be looking at this space and comparing it to others they see.  They want to be able to imagine their own belonging inside and this is a lot easier to do if everything is off the floor and organized.

Step Six: The Garage Door

Don’t forget about the garage door itself.  A good wash and new paint on the inside and out can help the door feel newer.  Don’t forget about the door that leads to the interior of your Locust Grove home too.  These ones can also benefit from a fresh coat of paint.

Step Seven:  Cars

During showings leave your car in the driveway or see if you can temporarily park it  at your very kind neighbor’s home.  It can be hard for buyers to appreciate this space when a car is parked inside, so leaving the garage car free can be helpful.