Whether you are looking to sell your property and want to maximise the return, or even just to remortgage at a more beneficial rate, you will be looking for cost-effective repairs and refurbishments, and you need to look no further than your garage.
It could be as simple as adding some garage shelving system and a new garage door if you just want to add a bit of value for very little cost, or maybe you’ve always wanted a workshop, but haven’t had the space. Putting a bit of effort into your garage can give you more space now, and a very good return on investment when needed.
From carport to cash
You can, of course, go all out and turn your garage into a full-fledged living space, as recommended by The Times, but this is the most expensive option by far. However, it can also add substantial value. The average one-car garage is 100 square feet, and living space can easily add over £600 per square foot in and around London, meaning your new living room could add £60,000 to your property’s value.
If you use your garage as a garage, a full conversion may be completely impractical, or just too expensive to consider. A workshop and utility room, however, might be just the ticket. Secondhand kitchen cabinets, a bit of plumbing work so that you can move your washer, and some garage shelving systems like those sold by https://www.garage-shelving.co.uk/ might not add as much value but will make your home much nicer to live in. By moving noisy appliances out of living spaces, and giving you more space to enjoy your hobbies, without making too much of a mess inside will be a great improvement.
What else can I do?
If you aren’t sold on the garage refurbishment, there are plenty of options to add some value to your property, starting with the appearance. Two of the cheapest and least disruptive options are, simply, replacing your garage door and front door. They may not do much, but first impressions matter, and that is what doors can add.
You can also try to take advantage of the value per square foot we talked about before. Loft conversions are popular, if pricey.
If you don’t have a garage to convert, maybe your best bet is add one.