Internal garage conversion - devalue or not..?
Discussion
Hello all - just looking at buying a new build with an integral garage. Given the design of the house, it seems ripe for a conversion into an extended family room - we could even split it into thirds roughly, and keep the garage door end, use it for storage if that makes sense.(bikes etc.)
Anyway, just wondering what's worth more;
1. A full size garage - don't mess with it
2. Partial garage, no different from front but with knocked-through huge family room to rear
3. Straigtforward conversion, no garage door, window installed etc.
Looking at new build prices, option 3 seems to be 'worth' more. Has anyone done this, got the t-shirt etc?
Thanks all
Just to add, the plot size is fixed, so no opportunity to extend sidewards for additional garage - one it's gone, it's gone
Anyway, just wondering what's worth more;
1. A full size garage - don't mess with it
2. Partial garage, no different from front but with knocked-through huge family room to rear
3. Straigtforward conversion, no garage door, window installed etc.
Looking at new build prices, option 3 seems to be 'worth' more. Has anyone done this, got the t-shirt etc?
Thanks all
Just to add, the plot size is fixed, so no opportunity to extend sidewards for additional garage - one it's gone, it's gone
The house down from us did it. Didn't add much money - but the house did sell. They had two integral garages and only converted one.
In your case it will make the house more suitable for *you*. It will make the house more suitable for some potential purchasers and less suitable for others...
In your case it will make the house more suitable for *you*. It will make the house more suitable for some potential purchasers and less suitable for others...
It's a tough call. Sometimes (within the bounds of resaon) it's better that you just do what suits you.
When we bought our house in 2005, it had a garage that ran the full depth of the house. We converted it into a large dining room/library and a utility room. We kept the garage door on the front of the utility room, so it's an easy conversion back, should anyone in the future covet a garage more than the two rooms.
I often wish I had a garage; but I love all the extra space we've now got downstairs.
When we bought our house in 2005, it had a garage that ran the full depth of the house. We converted it into a large dining room/library and a utility room. We kept the garage door on the front of the utility room, so it's an easy conversion back, should anyone in the future covet a garage more than the two rooms.
I often wish I had a garage; but I love all the extra space we've now got downstairs.
V8mate said:
It's a tough call. Sometimes (within the bounds of resaon) it's better that you just do what suits you.
When we bought our house in 2005, it had a garage that ran the full depth of the house. We converted it into a large dining room/library and a utility room. We kept the garage door on the front of the utility room, so it's an easy conversion back, should anyone in the future covet a garage more than the two rooms.
I often wish I had a garage; but I love all the extra space we've now got downstairs.
Ours will be a similar setup I guess. When we bought our house in 2005, it had a garage that ran the full depth of the house. We converted it into a large dining room/library and a utility room. We kept the garage door on the front of the utility room, so it's an easy conversion back, should anyone in the future covet a garage more than the two rooms.
I often wish I had a garage; but I love all the extra space we've now got downstairs.
We'd still have a double driveway, so no real parking issues either
In my recent search for a house I dismissed a couple of places that had gone through with a garage conversion. I didn't want to pay for space that I'd want to convert back to a garage.
Having said that I think most people just use the garage to store junk anyway and park on the drive.
Unless you plan on staying for a short period I'd do what works best for you.
Having said that I think most people just use the garage to store junk anyway and park on the drive.
Unless you plan on staying for a short period I'd do what works best for you.
We did a part conversion, created a utility room in the back of what was the garage and left the front as storage for paints, bikes, ladders and the like. We still have a decent storage space in the garage in and the utility is big enough to have the boiler, hot tank, washing machine, dryer and a sink. We lobbed in a load of kitchen units as well so it's perfect for what it is and actually bigger than the kitchens I've had in two flats!
We didn't plan for the council making us rip up the concrete floor to put in insulation in the utility, and as the outside walls are single skin they thickness of insulation is unbelievable. As a result, it's probably the warmest room in the house!
Our friends have a similar house and they had previously done a part conversion to put in a downstairs toilet, but they've now done a full conversion and made it into a study/library room, works really well. Getting bricks to match is one of the hardest things if you're worried about it "blending" in, they drove round the area to see what others had done to get ideas on making it look like it had always been there.
We didn't plan for the council making us rip up the concrete floor to put in insulation in the utility, and as the outside walls are single skin they thickness of insulation is unbelievable. As a result, it's probably the warmest room in the house!
Our friends have a similar house and they had previously done a part conversion to put in a downstairs toilet, but they've now done a full conversion and made it into a study/library room, works really well. Getting bricks to match is one of the hardest things if you're worried about it "blending" in, they drove round the area to see what others had done to get ideas on making it look like it had always been there.
Meant to say - in terms of value we both did it as it's our long term houses and want it for us so keeping value didn't come into it. When I was looking I wanted a house with a garage but this was the best way for us to get the space we needed. Someone down our road has extended the garage forwards at the front and it looks fine, so they've got the internal space and the full size garage.
If you are aiming to live in it for a few years then it is worth the effort, as long as it is done well and looks in keeping with the front of the house.
I don't know if it will increase or decrease the value of your house, I think that some people will prefer another room for the kids whilst others will prefer the garage. But as said above, for many people a garage is merely a place to store junk.
I don't know if it will increase or decrease the value of your house, I think that some people will prefer another room for the kids whilst others will prefer the garage. But as said above, for many people a garage is merely a place to store junk.
i converted the garage at my parents house into three rooms. 35m2 ,it was full of junk and now my dad has his own den ,bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor. left the garage door in so it can be converted back.
plenty of room on the drive but they now want a big shed to keep all the junk in
plenty of room on the drive but they now want a big shed to keep all the junk in
Edited by jas xjr on Tuesday 13th April 13:34
dougc said:
Christ on a bike! You're doing it wrong!
Convert the rest of downstairs to an EVEN bigger garage. You can live upstairs can't you? Pah!
Convert the rest of downstairs to an EVEN bigger garage. You can live upstairs can't you? Pah!
Thanks for the replies all
looking at the plans, converting the rear half would give us a good 'family room' and leave a standard looking garage at the front (no brick matching or anything required) with a depth of 2m. Not fantastic, but enought for a lawnmover and a few bikes. I used to store my 350 in our old garage, so I have a good eye for garage space saving measures
We are planning to live there a while (he says!) and so I completely agree with the 'do it for yourself' viewpoint.
Costs seem to be (ball park) 5-8k, which doesn't seem too bad. If we go ahead, then of course pics will follow
Check with Planning Department, it's NOT unknown for there to be a 'condition' on the original planning permission for conversions to be subject to planning approval with additional external parking requirements. These seem to be getting more common with tight developments.
Personlly i do'nt like clients lossing garage space, i think it make the property more difficult to move on, to keep the garage door does mean its easier to convert back.
Personlly i do'nt like clients lossing garage space, i think it make the property more difficult to move on, to keep the garage door does mean its easier to convert back.
Kuroblack350 said:
looking at the plans, converting the rear half would give us a good 'family room' and leave a standard looking garage at the front (no brick matching or anything required) with a depth of 2m. Not fantastic, but enought for a lawnmover and a few bikes.
I would NOT do this. It was on Property Ladder once and it was an unmitigated disaster for the lady who did it. If a buyer (many years down the line when you decide to move) sees a garage door but cannot get a car in, it puts them right off (at least, that's what happened on the show, and it was a rather big "I told you so" by Ms Beeny).Either make it a room in the house or leave it as a garage IMHO.
Jasandjules said:
Kuroblack350 said:
looking at the plans, converting the rear half would give us a good 'family room' and leave a standard looking garage at the front (no brick matching or anything required) with a depth of 2m. Not fantastic, but enought for a lawnmover and a few bikes.
I would NOT do this. It was on Property Ladder once and it was an unmitigated disaster for the lady who did it. If a buyer (many years down the line when you decide to move) sees a garage door but cannot get a car in, it puts them right off (at least, that's what happened on the show, and it was a rather big "I told you so" by Ms Beeny).Either make it a room in the house or leave it as a garage IMHO.
Jasandjules said:
Kuroblack350 said:
looking at the plans, converting the rear half would give us a good 'family room' and leave a standard looking garage at the front (no brick matching or anything required) with a depth of 2m. Not fantastic, but enought for a lawnmover and a few bikes.
I would NOT do this. It was on Property Ladder once and it was an unmitigated disaster for the lady who did it. If a buyer (many years down the line when you decide to move) sees a garage door but cannot get a car in, it puts them right off (at least, that's what happened on the show, and it was a rather big "I told you so" by Ms Beeny).Either make it a room in the house or leave it as a garage IMHO.
My second thoughts were, "What's next on the list of houses to view?"
Come selling time, you may find a buyer who would prefer it and only have one car but chances are you'll find a buyer who has a car or just loads of junk to stick in a garage.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
How many people actually use a garage to put there car in, there will be a higher than average on this site. Most garages are just full of junk if you need extra space convert the garage and get a shed for your junk. If your going to do it do it properly don't leave the garage door on.
Si 330 said:
How many people actually use a garage to put there car in, there will be a higher than average on this site. Most garages are just full of junk if you need extra space convert the garage and get a shed for your junk. If your going to do it do it properly don't leave the garage door on.
I don't necessarily agree. The first part if our garage is now the utility room. We left the roller door on, not only for simple reversion, but also because it allows work to be done in that room which requires a large entrance, e.g. running large bits of wood through the machine saw, tools/buckets etc when working on/ washing the cars etc. Also allows large items of household rubbish to be stored and then disposed of without going bbl through the house. It's very practical to have a large portal into the house.
Unless a buyer specfically wanted a garage, I can't imagine any reason for them to dislike the setup.
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