Most people use the garage not only for storing their car, but for storing all of the unused items they have that they do not want to get rid of quite yet. This means the garage essentially becomes a storage unit for many homes. While that might be fine when you and your family are living in the house, what happens when it comes time to sell the property?
You do not want to show the house, which you’ve worked to stage to perfection only to take the prospective buyers into the garage to show them a cluttered mess. They are not going to be thrilled with the way it looks, and even though they know the mess won’t be there when they move into the place, it can sour their opinion of your property. Therefore, you need to make sure you know how to stage your garage properly. For many people, that is going to take quite a bit of work, but it will all be worthwhile.
Removing the Clutter
Just as you need to do with the front yard and the interior of the home, you have to remove all of the clutter and junk from the garage. Even though you might have some great items stored away in there, it is still junk to those who are looking at the property. What are you to do with all of these items? You have a couple of choices.
First, you need to go through all of the items and be honest about what you need and do not need. Separate the items into piles that you can’t part with and items that you do not need. With the items that you know you want to keep, set them aside and then get a storage unit where you can keep them, and any other clutter from the home, until you have sold the property.
With all of the other items, you can start by holding a garage sale. If you have some nice things, and you advertise a garage sale, you can get rid of some of those belongings and make a bit of money in the process. With the items that do not sell, you can then donate them or recycle them. Throw away anything else.
This is the hard part. Once you have removed all of this clutter, you will find that taking care of the rest of the garage is going to be much easier.
Proper Cleaning
Next comes cleaning the garage. You will start by removing any cobwebs and dust and sweeping up the floor. This will give you a better idea of what else needs to happen to get the garage into good shape. You might find that painting the walls in a neutral color can make the garage appear larger, but it depends on the type of walls in the garage.
Use a pressure washer to remove as much of the grit, dirt, grime, and grease from the floor as possible. If there are a lot of oil stains and other stains on the floor, you may want to consider painting the floors. Choose paint that is specifically for concrete floors, and then get a sealer for the floor. You could do this on your own, or you could hire someone to do it for you if you prefer.
Organization of Tools
You probably have quite a few tools that you will still need while you are in the house. If you do have tools that you can’t move quite yet, and that you can’t store because you will need them, make sure they are properly organized. Simply hang them on some hooks in the wall, for example.
Lighting
You need to have good lighting for the garage as well. Overhead lighting is important, but you will also want to have some additional lighting for the workspace areas. Turn these lights on when the buyers head into the garage to show them the possibilities the garage offers, and to highlight just how clean it is after all that work you put into it.
Check the Door
Do you have an older garage door? Is it working properly? Check the garage door system to make sure everything is in proper working order and that there are no issues with the door. If you do find some problems with the door, you will want to have them repaired by a professional before you show the garage.
If the garage door is in terrible shape, then you may want to look into getting a new one if you hope to sell your property. You can be sure the buyers will want to check the garage door to ensure it opens and closes smoothly.
Create a Workspace or Hobby Space
While you may want to make sure there is room for the vehicle in the garage, you can consider putting in a workspace or hobby space, as well. This is true even if you aren’t necessarily using those spaces yourself. Having the space set up for the buyers to see shows them the possibilities available with the garage and gets their imaginations running. They will imagine themselves doing woodwork or painting or engaging in other hobbies in this nice garage.
What If the Home Still Doesn’t Sell?
If you are trying to sell your property, but even with a staged garage and the rest of your house in shape you are still having trouble selling, there are some options available to you. For example, you might want to consider using the house as an investment property and renting it out to others.
Additionally, if you want to get out of the house as soon as possible, one of the best ways to do it is to work with an investor. There are plenty of investors who are interested in buying homes just like yours, and they can buy quickly. Consider what is best for your interests right now.