Image credit: bruce mars
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Garages, and as a result, garage space, seem to be rare these days. In 2024, only 8% of new homes had one-car garages, with only 2% having a carport. Space is very clearly at a premium these days.
However, this is good news for landlords who have a rental with a garage. Your home has a unique selling point that is very in demand – a little bit more room. You can increase this benefit by using that room wisely – preferably to create even more of it! Make the most out of the space in your garage and attract quality tenants, it makes a lot of sense.
How to Make the Most of Garage Space
- Planning your garage layout
- Build a bigger garage
- Think outside the storage box
- Making-the-most-of-your-ceiling-space
- Storage solutions should be at the top of your priority list as a landlord
- How to make life as a landlord easier
Planning your garage layout
A little forethought goes a long way in creating a more usable space. If you are starting with a blank canvas and trying to figure out how to design the garage, grab a piece of paper and sketch out your space. You don’t need to be an architect, just rough out the dimensions and mark where permanent features like doors and windows are located. This simple step will save you some headaches down the road.
When doing this, it’s important to consider traffic flow. You’ll want clear paths to areas where tenants may store frequently used items and enough space to open car doors. Always leave enough buffer space around wherever the vehicle will sit.
The floor itself deserves some attention, too. A good coating looks sharp, makes cleaning a breeze and helps protect against oil stains and moisture. Plus, it can actually make the whole space feel more like an intentional part of the property rather than just a dumping ground for random stuff.
Build a bigger garage
If you are yet to build a garage in your rental, or you have a little extra space where your existing one stands, increasing the offering to include a larger space can be a good idea; the average two-car garage size is commonly either 20×20, 20×22, 24×24, or 24×30.
As the name suggests, a two-car garage offers enough space to park two vehicles, but you also need to consider that you have extra wall space for storage such as bicycles, ladders, shelving, and more. For tenants with only one car, the two-car garage will make little love hearts pop up around their eyes – think of the possibilities! If you want to stand out in the rental market, offer your tenants plenty of room to stretch out and design their lives around, and a two-car garage instantly plants the idea of endless opportunities for them while they are on the housing hunt.
Think outside the storage box
Photo by Dan Akuna on Unsplash
Offering additional storage space is a great way to make more money from your investment property. Garages often look like they’ve been through a tornado, so you want to make it easy for your tenant to avoid a cluttered space. The simpler it is to create an organizational masterpiece in the garage, the more space they will have to work with.
The best way to do this is to stop thinking about the floor. Look up, and you’ll discover a gold mine of storage possibilities. Those bare walls and that unused vertical space are begging for smart storage solutions. Installing sturdy wall-mounted shelves or heavy-duty pegboards can keep stuff off the ground while still leaving room for a car. Create a dedicated tool station with magnetic strips and small hooks. Make life easier for your tenants by letting them know which mounting options you are happy with so they can take this idea further when they move in. Removable solutions like command hooks or freestanding shelf units are usually safe bets that won’t leave you with holes to patch should they move out.
Pro tip: Provide clear plastic bins with labels stacked strategically along the walls. That jumble of holiday decorations and camping gear becomes easily accessible, and your tenant will be more inclined to keep things neat.
Making the most of your ceiling space
Continuing with the “look up” theme from above, you’d be amazed at what’s possible above your head. The garage ceiling is prime real estate for overhead storage systems like ceiling-mounted racks (depending on your ceiling joists and weight limitations).
A pulley system is a great option for storing kayaks, bikes, or bulky sports equipment. They make it easy to lower items when you need them, as do retractable storage platforms. These systems lower down when you need to access your stuff and disappear back into the ceiling when done. A fold-down workbench mounted near the ceiling can also save a lot of space, and once it’s folded up, it’s practically invisible. An instant workspace that doesn’t sacrifice valuable floor area.
Storage solutions should be at the top of your priority list as a landlord
When was the last time you heard someone complain about having too much storage space?
Remember, great storage options can make or break a tenant’s experience in your property. When renters have plenty of well-thought-out places to store their belongings, they’re more likely to feel at home and settle in for the long haul. Long-term tenants who feel comfortable in their space are worth their weight in gold.
From a practical standpoint, good storage solutions often translate into better-maintained properties. Don’t force your tenants to resort to makeshift solutions that could damage walls or create cluttered, potentially hazardous situations. Storage is a major selling point when listing your property. Highlighting well-designed storage solutions shows potential tenants that you understand their needs and have invested in making the space livable, not just habitable.
How to make life as a landlord easier
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