Home Staging
An Orderly & Safe Garage
Is a potential “gold mine” of additional interior space

A clean, safe, brightly lit, orderly and functional garage is seen as a strong value-adding amenity to a home.

This often neglected area, formerly considered just the place to store the family car, is now an integral part of the modern American lifestyle.

Today, many homeowners see the garage as an “additional room” where they spend a great deal of time.

Perception is reality. If your garage can be described by any of the following terms: dark & scary, cluttered, a hiding place for unfinished projects, pack rat heaven, a giant, walk-in closet with an overhead door, … then it’s detracting from the value of your home.

A Safe & Orderly Garage Is A Valuable Garage
In addition to making your home safer, organizing your garage will make your home more valuable. The Home Safety Council emphasizes the importance of safety precautions in the garage and offers the following recommendations as ways to make your garage a clean, safe, organized, useful, value-enhancing area:

• Organize all items in designated, easy-to-reach places, so large piles don’t accumulate.
• Store shovels, rakes, lawn chairs, bikes and other sharp and large objects on the wall to prevent trips and falls.
• Clear floors and steps of clutter, grease and spills.
• Keep children’s playthings in one area and within their reach to prevent children from exploring potentially dangerous areas.
• Light your garage brightly with maximum safe wattage as designated by light fixtures.
• Protect light bulbs near work areas with substantial guards to reduce risk of breakage and fire.
• Light stairs brightly and install secure handrails or banisters on both sides that extend the entire length of the stairs.
• Make sure poisonous products such as pesticides, automotive fluids, lighter fluid, paint thinner, antifreeze and turpentine have child-resistant caps, are clearly labeled and are stored either on a high shelf or in a locked cabinet.
• Do not use barbeque grills and electric generators inside the garage as they emit carbon monoxide (CO) and pose a fire hazard.
• Install a smoke alarm and CO detector in the garage.
• Never leave cars running inside a closed or open garage to prevent CO poisoning.
• Store gasoline in small quantities only and in a proper, tightly sealed container labeled “gasoline.”
• Do not keep gasoline in a garage with an appliance that contains a pilot light.
• Mount a fire extinguisher and stocked first aid kit in the garage and make sure every family member knows where they are and how to use them.
• Store pool chemicals according to the manufacturers’ directions to prevent combustion and potential poisoning exposures.
• Do not overload outlets and make sure the electrical ratings on extension cords have been checked to ensure they are carrying no more than their proper loads.
• Lock electrical supply boxes to prevent children from opening them.
• Clean garage of dust, cobwebs and trash, which can interfere with the electrical system.
• Properly secure shelving units to the wall, make sure they are not overloaded and store heavier items closest to the ground.
• Keep a sturdy step stool within easy reach to aid in reaching items stored high up.

P.S. Don’t forget to leave room for the car. Even though it is no longer used exclusively as the place to store the family car, the garage’s primary function (& primary value) is still to provide indoor shelter for cars.

NOTE: Garage Tek, Garage Works and Garage Envy are a few of the prominent manufacturers of garage storage and organizer systems.

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