The Ultimate Garage Storage & Organization Guide
If you’ve allowed belongings like tools, toys, old furniture, and workout equipment to slowly edge your car out of its intended parking space, it is probably time to get a fresh start. And don’t beat yourself up about the clutter. You are not alone. We all are in the habit of casting out items and leaving them to languish in the garage. In fact, 57% of homeowners with two-car garages don’t have room to park their cars inside them – let alone cram anything else in. Most of us simply use the garage as a glorified shed. Where everything from knickknacks and seasonal decorations to sports gear and lawn equipment is stored. Our endless piles of belongings often render the space impossible to utilize for its intended purpose – protecting the vehicle we drive. Suzanne O’Donnell, a professional organizer, shares her philosophy on creating a space that is functional and stress-free. “My philosophy: If you want to get organized and stay organized you must create a home for everything. If you are not able to create a home for all that you have, then it’s time to edit. Your garage is a great place to store archival or long-term storage. Creating space in the garage for this category will allow more space in your home for all of those things you use on a regular basis. When choosing what you’ll store for an extended period of time, be ruthless, think about what you really wish to hang on to. And be sure to leave room to grow.” Cleaning out and organizing your garage is not for the faint of heart. It can be downright overwhelming and intimidating to stare down a room full of boxes, odds and ends. But worry not, we are here to help you declutter like a pro. No need to keep shutting the door on your dreams of having a well-organized garage. Clutter-Busting Guide for Your Garage You’ll be shocked to find out that only 30% of Americans park their car in the garage. Why might you ask? Because of clutter. An overwhelming number of homeowners have pushed themselves out of their own garages because they have too much ‘stuff’. Do you have crates of miscellaneous ‘junk’ or unmarked boxes piled high against the walls? Worry not, this is a common problem, and we’re here to help. But before we dish all of our garage organization tips, let’s prep your garage for its transformation. Step 1: Start Throwing Things Out! It may seem easy, but for some people, it is the hardest part of organizing the garage. A good rule of thumb is to start separating things into 3 piles. Keep – Donate – Sell. If you haven’t worn or used something in years, are you actually going to start now? You can have a yard sale for items that still have value, but no longer serve a purpose in your life. Outgrown toys are a great item to purge because they can be recycled and given to a family with young children or donated. Expired paints, chemicals, and other household products that have been sitting collecting dust, it’s time to give them the old heave-ho. Step 2: Remove Items That Should Not Be Stored in the Garage. There are certain things that you should probably not store in the garage to begin with. So if you see them, either toss it or find another home for them. Things like paint and propane tanks could emit fumes, explode or catch fire depending on the temperature. It’s best to store propane tanks outside and paint should be stored in a part of the home that is more temperate. Paper products and dog food attract insects and rodents. Both should be stored in sealed containers inside the pantry, mudroom or hall closet space. Step 3: Sorting. It’s helpful to start out by making three piles that you’ll find useful during this step: store, get rid of, and trash. For the items you wish to get rid of, consider having a yard sale or donating to charity. The latter is tax-deductible. Once you’ve sorted out all of your items, we find it particularly beneficial, to sort “like with like.” We suggest sorting the items you wish to keep in the following categories: Tools Seasonal Keepsake Frequently-used Sports gear and camping Lawn equipment and gardening Step 4: Take Everything Out. Now that you have things sorted into categories, it’s time to remove the piles of stuff from your garage. Take out everything, right down to the last loose screw. An empty garage is the only way you’ll be able to rediscover all of the long lost treasures you may have missed when you were sorting through larger items. This makes cleaning, purging, sorting, and organizing more efficient; thus saving you time. Just make sure that if you’re going to make this a weekend project, that the valuables go back in each night. Step 5: Deep Clean the Garage. Typically, the only room of the house exempt from routine, let alone deep cleaning is that of the garage. Because of this, the garage is often full of dust, and cobwebs. Gross! Now that you’ve removed all of the contents of your garage, it’s time to break out the dry vacuum, and pressure washer. After you’ve thoroughly vacuumed up all the dust bunnies and cobwebs, turn the pressure washer on full blast, and really let loose. Step 6: Create a Floorplan & Layout. You don’t have to be a sketch artist or draftsman to draw a floorplan. Getting a rough idea of your new garage layout will help when it’s time to buy garage storage products, which is the next thing you’ll be doing. Helpful tip: You will find that most garage organizing systems and products will come with a free space planning template or an online system that you can use to draft a loose layout. Remember to notate the dimensions of your garage and the space your car would take
10 Fun Garage Door Stats That Will Surprise You!
Your garage door is the largest moving part in your home and perhaps works harder than any object or appliance that you own. To maximize your safety, and provide you with some intriguing facts, here are garage door stats homeowners should know. The most common garage door injuries are caused by pinched or crushed section joints (59.5%), followed by falling doors (16.5%) and someone working on a door (12.7%). About 20,000 Americans suffer garage door related injuries every year. The weight of the garage door (it’s the heaviest moving object in your home), springs, cables, and other attached hardware can seriously injure children and adults. On average, a garage door will open and close three to five times per day, or about 1,500 times per year. This puts a tremendous strain on a garage door opener over its expected 15-year lifespan. An Impulse Research Survey found 24% of garage owners are embarrassed when they leave their garage doors open. This percentage isn’t only due to the fact leaving the door open invites danger, including burglaries, but also because of a lack of storage or organization in the garage space. If you have an attached garage, the garage door may take up as much as one-third of your home’s exterior. Electric garage door openers have been around for a long time. The first one appeared in 1926, invented by C.G. Johnson. However, they did not become popular until after World War II when Era Meter Company of Chicago launched one that could be operated with a switch from the garage or a keypad in the driveway. If you’re looking for a sound return on investment, you can recoup 80% to 90% of the cost of a new garage door when you sell your home. By installing a new garage door, the value of your property can increase by up to 4%. If your home is worth $175,000, this means it can increase by $7,000. Modern garage doors can make your house more energy efficient. You can also save electricity with a new garage door opener. Modern openers use up to 75% less power than older systems. More than half of homeowners (55%) enter their home through their garage door after parking. Many consider it easier to get out of the car and go inside rather than walk around to the front door. Get a New Garage Door or Garage Door Repairs from Precision Door Service of Las Vegas Serving the Las Vegas area, including Henderson, Green Valley, and Boulder City, Precision Door Service of Las Vegas provides a wide selection of high-quality new garage doors from leading manufacturers. Our team can even help select a door that updates the style of your home, whether you have a single-car or 2-car garage. We can also protect you and your vehicles with garage door tune-ups and maintenance and by repairing any problem, no matter how big or small it is. Our team is available 24/7 to provide emergency service. The stats don’t lie. With your garage door opening and closing so frequently, it’s important to keep it in good shape, so it’s safe and easy to get in and out. We can also increase the value of your home with a new installation. To receive assistance by our trained, certified service technicians or to schedule maintenance or free quote, call Precision Door Service of Las Vegas at 702-637-2700 or contact us online.
Garage Sale Tips
You know what they say: “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.” Whether you are looking to make some decent pocket change or rid yourself, and your home, of some excess clutter be sure and read the following nine tips to ensure a successful, money-making sale. Preparing Your Garage Sale #1. Set a date, or dates, for your sale #2. Purge: Go through your home, one room and garage at a time, and decide what to sell. If you read last month’s blog: “Spring into Garage Organization,” then you should one step of the game already. The items that make it into your garage sale pile should be in good to excellent condition. They should be something you’d willingly spend your own money on. #3. Advertise: A lack of advertising can have negative effects on your sale. The best ways to advertise your sale are through social media, websites, and garage sale finder apps. You should also advertise your sale with brightly colored signs that are legible to read. Make sure to post your hours and address, along with directional arrows, so bargain hunters know when and where to go. Setting Up Your Sale #4. Organize: The way you display your items speaks volumes. Organize your sale like you would see in a store. Hand clothing on racks, separated by size and gender. Set out tables and place items in categories, such as: kitchen gadgets/utensils, sports and camping equipment, toys, tools, seasonal décor, appliances, and electronics. Supply a power source so that customers can test any working items. #5. Price Everything: As an experienced bargain hunter, a sale without clearly marked prices is one of my biggest pet peeves, and is often the reason behind me walking from a sale. Price all for sale items as you set them out – no exceptions. “Name Your Own Price” sales generally don’t fare as well as traditional garage sales. Maximize Your Sale #6. Multi-household Sale: To get the most out of your sale, consider having a neighborhood sale, or inviting a friend or family member to come over and sell his/her wares right alongside you. There is nothing bargain hunters like more than a multi-household sale. #7. Be Approachable: Always greet your customers with a friendly smile and a “Good Morning.” Offer your assistance when able to, but don’t follow your customers around or be pushy, as this can make people uncomfortable. Some good conversation starters include asking them: “Are there a lot of garage sales out there today?” “Can you believe how lucky we are with the weather today?” “Are you looking for anything special?” #8. Involve the Kids: Give your children a taste of private enterprise by entrusting them with their own lemonade or water stand – within your eyesight. They’re sure to get a kick out of it! Are they selling cookie or popcorn for girl/boy scouts? Set them up for success by allowing them to sell those products at your sale. #9. Guard Your Money and Valuables: Don’t ever leave your money or valuable items unattended – not even for a second. Carry your money on you in either a fanny pack or carpenter’s belt at all times. As for valuables, keep those in a locked box or case when not showing to an interested party.
Add Space With A Garage Car Lift
Cars, tools, lawn equipment, bikes, camping gear, and holiday decorations are all examples of common items that can easily be stored in your garage. Storing all these items in the garage, however, takes up valuable real estate. To take advantage of all the space your garage has to offer, it is necessary to impose some structure, such as a car lift. By installing a car lift, you’ll be able to park two cars in a one car garage, while having plenty of space leftover to stow everything else. What is a Car Lift? Originally designed for mechanics – as a means to repair a vehicle’s undercarriage safely – car lifts can free you from having to assume awkward positions when working on your baby, as well as free up prime real estate in your garage. They’re particularly beneficial in one-car garages. Built from high-quality materials, a car lift is a product that uses hydraulics to raise the car on either two or four posts, which extend beneath the car to lift the vehicle. The Advantages of a Car Lift Car lifts come in a wide variety of configurations including: above ground, in-ground, y-lift, two-post, four-post, low/mid rise, and smartlift – among others. From a storage standpoint, a four-post car lift allows you to store one car over another, thus affording you the opportunity to store your classics in the garage rather than offsite. Once you’ve changed your car’s oil without the pain of having to jack up the car, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without one. The Skinny on Space With the advantages of a lift hard to argue, you may have decided to start the hunt for one – but is there room in your garage for one? Generally speaking, a 10-foot height and 22-foot length garage, is probably the minimum amount of space needed to stack two cars. It’s important not to forget about overhead hazards such as the garage door, or more specifically, the garage door opener and tracks. Measure your clearance with the door opened and closed. Not all lifts are created equal Quality, quality, quality! Did I mention quality? A 4,000 pound car lifted in the air, can lead to catastrophe, which is why you should NEVER be stingy with your lift budget. Before you buy, check out the website Automotive Lift Institute, for a directory of certified car lift manufacturers. ALI’s mission is to “promote the safe design, construction, installation, inspection, and use of automotive lifts”.
The Pros of Having a Garage
The pros of having a garage are numerous. Living in Las Vegas, I’m sure you know how it is to step out of your house on a 90+ degree day, just to go start your car. And if you have leather…forget about it! After running the engine for five minutes or so, the car is usually cool enough for you to stomach getting into, let alone driving to your destination. For those of you that maintain your car on a do it yourself basis, you probably know what the inconvenience of working on it outside is like, especially when you have to slide under it and you get burnt due to the hot sidewalk. A garage can change all that as well as provide you with the following benefits: The Storage Potential A garage opens up an enormous amount of additional storage space. If you own it; you can store it. Besides storing the obvious (your car) a garage provides ample space for storing landscaping equipment, tools, bikes, annual decorations and everything in between. When you run out of floor space, make sure to look up at the walls and ceiling for more storage space. The Property Value Adding a garage is a reasonably good investment according to remodeling magazine’s 2015 “Cost vs. Value Report.” If you invest $52,382, which is the national average, on this addition you can expect to recoup 64.8 percent or $33,938 of your investment at resale – or refinance. Already have a garage that you want to replace the door on? Midrange garage door replacements, which on average cost $1,595, can net you 88.4 percent or $1,410 of your initial investment at time of resale. This a 5.9 percent higher rate than an upgrade garage door replacement. Whichever of the three options you choose, you can feel confident knowing that you’re making a good decision, economically speaking. The Potential Who said a garage had to be boring? Garages are like a blank canvas. Their usability options are endless. With the space they provide you can turn them into workshops, gyms, home offices, day cares and the list goes on. Want to liven them up? Try painting the walls a cheerful color. And don’t forget the floors. Many options for garage flooring exist today including epoxy flooring.
Clear the Clutter – Organize your Garage
For too many of us, the garage becomes sort of a dumping ground for items that we don’t want in our house. Before long, you may find that you have less and less room to park or get out of your car. When it gets to that point, it’s probably a good idea to take some time and organize your garage. Here are few suggestions to help you clear the clutter: Start with basic cleaning. Sweep or vacuum the floors to clean an area for organizing. Be careful not to step on any loose nails or screws that may be lying around. Also, steer clear of any oil stains that are in your garage. Kitty litter makes a good absorbent for heavy oil stains or spills. While you are cleaning, make note of any spiderwebs or evidence that any creatures, such as bats, have taken up residence in your garage. During the basic cleaning, you can begin the decluttering process by tossing anything you know you aren’t going to keep in the trash. This way you don’t have to deal with it during the decluttering/decision making phase of what to toss and keep. The decluttering process will allow you to assign a value to items in your garage. We suggest using the following values for items to help organize your garage: Toss Keep Donate Sell on Ebay / Garage Sale Trash If you have space, move all the items into your driveway. It’s a good idea to create zones to sort items. Use zone designations such as car supplies, sports equipment, tools, recycle center, Ebay, etc. to help organize. Some organizers like to divide their garages into department store zones (garden, automotive, paint, etc). Once you have your items sorted into the proper categories, it’s time to assess how much space you will need to store the items back into your garage. Be sure to utilize your vertical space in your garage by using pegboards and shelving for storage space. It’s a good idea to have a lockable cabinet if you are storing any potentially harmful chemicals, especially if children are present. Once you have everything stored in it’s proper place, be sure to take any items you plan on donating to a donation center right away. Return any items you may have borrowed from neighbors or family. Any left over items, consider a garage sale or even selling on Ebay. Do you have any ideas for organizing a garage? Please share you comments and photo’s with us!