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<\/a>What is a \u201cfinished\u201d garage anyway?<\/h2>\n
First, let\u2019s define what the term \u201cfinished garage\u201d means:<\/p>\n
\u201cA finished garage doesn\u2019t have open and exposed beams, it\u2019s drywalled, and in some cases the walls are textured and painted,\u201d explains Ryan McKee<\/a>, an experience Los Angeles-based agent who\u2019s recently sold properties with finished garages.<\/p>\n \u201cFor some people there\u2019s an extended definition for a finished garage that means it\u2019s finished to a livable condition to use as an extra bedroom, a bonus room, or as a rentable space. However, most call those converted garages.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Right off the bat you need to know that converting your garage into additional living space (meaning you\u2019ve taken out the garage door) is never a good idea when you\u2019re planning to sell. A house without a functional garage will decrease in value<\/a> and make it harder to sell.<\/p>\n \u201cI’ve actually had a recent experience on a converted garage where it detracted from the value of the house,\u201d recalls McKee.<\/p>\n \u201cThe seller had converted the garage into a large bonus room, but it didn\u2019t have an attached bathroom and its location within the house was awkward. In order to sell the house, he had to convert it back to a functional garage.\u201d<\/p>\n A finished garage won\u2019t hurt your home\u2019s value, but it probably won’t increase your home value<\/a>, either.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether or not a finished garage adds value to a house is pretty subjective. Depending on my clientele, one may not care at all, and to another it means everything,\u201d says McKee.<\/p>\n Aside from textured and painted drywall, finished garages also tend to have other bells and whistles, too, like resurfaced flooring and built-in storage.<\/p>\n Once you start adding all of those extras onto the project, finishing your garage will cost you around $9,970<\/a> or more, depending on how many extras you add. Ten grand is a whole lot of money to spend on a room primarily used for parking cars.<\/p>\n So, the bottom line is: it\u2019s not worth the money to finish the garage right before you sell<\/b>.<\/p>\n All that most home sellers need is a little time and elbow grease spent on cleaning and organizing the garage<\/a>. The money allocated for finishing the garage is much better off invested into home improvement projects with a high ROI<\/a>.<\/p>\n That being said, there are some cases where a finished garage is a must-have, say if you\u2019re selling a $1.5 million dollar luxury home, or you live in an area where all of your neighbors have finished garages.<\/p>\n A top local real estate agent<\/a> will be able to tell you for sure if a finished garage will increase a home\u2019s value in your neighborhood based on their experience with buyer trends and popular home renovations for your area and price point.<\/p>\n For example, if your house already has a finished garage in an area where they aren\u2019t expected or valued, it can still be a valuable asset. A finished garage is also a bonus for buyers that\u2019s worth highlighting in your marketing materials. Extras like that may just be the tipping point needed to bring buyers in to see your house instead of your competition.<\/p>\n There actually is a niche market for finished garages (although it\u2019s pretty microscopic, even for a niche). You might find the rare buyer who will pay more for a finished garage, say a hobbyist who\u2019ll use it as a workshop, or a gearhead mechanic who\u2019ll want a polished place for his classic cars.<\/p>\n On the other hand, a local real estate pro might tell you don\u2019t bother and then you\u2019ve saved several thousand dollars.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve decided that a full garage refinish isn\u2019t in the cards, consider some of these smaller scope projects that could boost the appearance and functionality of your garage without requiring a full-fledged refinish.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s one improvement you can make to your garage that actually has a solid ROI: replace that old, too-heavy-for-an-electric-opener garage door.<\/p>\n Remodeling Magazine<\/i> found in its 2019 Cost vs. Value study that an upscale garage door replacement can actually net you a return of 97.5%<\/a>.<\/p>\n A new garage door will run you between $300 to $1,500<\/a>, depending upon the size and style, while installation typically costs between $500 and $800<\/a>.<\/p>\n Remember those micro-niche buyers who might just pay more for a finished garage? If you aim to sell to that niche, your finished garage needs a floor that can stand up to heavy use, like an epoxy floor<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of buyers wouldn\u2019t pay a dollar over list price for a finished garage, unless the buyer is a car guy or someone who\u2019s very serious about the garage,\u201d explains McKee.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019ve got a finished garage with epoxy flooring, that may not really have any inherent value, but it has a subjective value and the right buyer will pay $10,000 extra to have it.\u201d<\/p>\n While there are a number of garage flooring options<\/a> out there, epoxy is a top choice because of it\u2019s sleek look, relatively simple installation process, and it\u2019s low cost.<\/p>\n Epoxy is actually a system of resin and hardener<\/a> that once mixed creates a rigid, plastic-like surface that resists oil stains, and won\u2019t peel like paint does under road-heated rubber car tires.<\/p>\n On average, it costs between $1,422 to $2,949<\/a> to have a professional coat your garage floor with epoxy. You can DIY the project for as low as $100 for a garage-sized kit<\/a>, however it\u2019s trickier than slapping down some paint and calling it a day.<\/p>\n The application of epoxy flooring depends on the type of system you get, however most require a multi-step process.<\/a> For residential garage use, flake epoxy kits<\/a> are popular since they allow you to customize the color combination<\/a> of your final floor finish.<\/p>\n A good cleaning and organizing session may be all that most garages need, however that\u2019s not so easily accomplished if there are no places to stash your stuff.<\/p>\n Installing a storage system in your garage doesn\u2019t need to be complicated or expensive.<\/p>\n You can get basic plastic or metal garage shelves for as low as $40 per unit<\/a>. Plastic garage cabinets that hide your mess behind doors aren\u2019t much more, starting at $70 up to $250 per unit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Adding storage to your garage doesn\u2019t even need to be that expensive if you\u2019re replacing your kitchen cabinets before selling your house.<\/p>\n Simply clean up a few of the cabinets and a section of countertop, and you\u2019ve got yourself ready-made garage storage and a workstation, too.<\/p>\n It\u2019s a given that homes are insulated against the weather, but most unfinished garages aren\u2019t.<\/p>\n Whether frigid winter snow or punishing summer sun, if you live in an extreme weather region, you may want to consider installing insulation\u2014especially if yours has features like a workbench that encourage spending hours in the garage.<\/p>\n Having your garage insulated by a pro isn\u2019t cheap, with the price running between $1,000 to $2,000<\/a> (depending on your insulation type).<\/p>\n However, this is a project that you can DIY if you have the right tools<\/a> and a little insulation installation education<\/a> thanks to YouTube video tutorials. Buying enough fiberglass insulation for your whole garage will only run you between $400 to $800<\/a>.<\/p>\n Insulation can only do so much to keep the garage warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The only way to really control the temp of your finished garage is by adding heating and air-conditioning to the space.<\/p>\n If the garage you\u2019ve just insulated is attached to your home, adding conditioned air may be as simple as extending the vents of your existing H-VAC out to the garage.<\/p>\n Extending existing ventilation out to your attached garage can cost anywhere from \u00a0$400 to $2,000<\/a>, depending on how close the ventilation shafts are to the garage.<\/p>\nFinished vs. converted garage: How each impacts your home\u2019s value<\/h2>\n
How much does it cost to finish the garage?<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Get professional advice before you make any moves<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Smaller projects to make your garage shine<\/h2>\n
1. Replace your old garage door<\/h3>\n
2. Resurface stained concrete with stain-resistant epoxy<\/h3>\n
<\/a>3. Add storage with shelves or cabinets<\/h3>\n
4. Install energy-saving insulation, then finish those walls<\/h3>\n
5. Hook your garage up with heat and air conditioning<\/h3>\n