Garage conversion

Pammy

Is it worth converting a garage into a kitchen or dining room?

My mum says most people want a garage when you come to sell your house?

There is a driveway for off street parking regardless.

Personally I would want to get rid of the garage.

shane42

many conversions dont add value over the build cost, so it is a personal thing, will it improve your way of living ? is it what you want?
it will not loose you money either so really is a personal thing

Doozergirl

A garage conversion shouldn't be expensive. I'd say it would increase the value if your target market is relatively young, if the conversion creates a space that is genuinely useful over the use of a garage and the house not so big that people automatically expect a garage.

I think older people expect garages more than younger people who value entertaining space etc

Hailstorm

Difficult to say as it is swings and roundabouts. Some people will prefer the extra room and won't mind that there isn't a garage. Others will want a garage. It all depends on the demographics of the typical buyer for that sort of house in that area. The people who will know best would be estate agents in your area.

Are you planning on moving soon? If so, then it makes sense to go with what works out best financially. If you are going to stay put for some time then you are making a home of it so just do whatever suits you best.

LandyAndy

Doozergirl wrote: »

A garage conversion shouldn't be expensive. I'd say it would increase the value if your target market is relatively young, if the conversion creates a space that is genuinely useful over the use of a garage and the house not so big that people automatically expect a garage.

I think older people expect garages more than younger people who value entertaining space etc

:rotfl:

As an older person, 52, I can confirm that.

I wouldn't consider a property without a garage (probably a double).

skintchick

Well, all i can say is a garage conversion appears to have added 25k to houses in our street!

My house is on the market for 250k, we are mid terrace, with garage, but have taken back boiler out of lounge, and redone bathroom to high spec (we did that for us not to sell).

Neighbour is end terrace, smaller garden, garage is converted to study/dining room, back boiler and associated hideous brick fireplace still in situ, basic bathroom, on for 275k.

Only differecne is we went on the market 6 months ago and she has just gone on (spring market?), so it seems it does make a difference but mostly I think it is the agents pushing prices up cos the conversion would cost maximum 5k and surely can;t add THAT much value.

Depends on your area and property I'd imagine though.

shane42

skintchick wrote: »

Well, all i can say is a garage conversion appears to have added 25k to houses in our street!

My house is on the market for 250k, we are mid terrace, with garage, but have taken back boiler out of lounge, and redone bathroom to high spec (we did that for us not to sell).

Neighbour is end terrace, smaller garden, garage is converted to study/dining room, back boiler and associated hideous brick fireplace still in situ, basic bathroom, on for 275k.

Only differecne is we went on the market 6 months ago and she has just gone on (spring market?), so it seems it does make a difference but mostly I think it is the agents pushing prices up cos the conversion would cost maximum 5k and surely can;t add THAT much value.

Depends on your area and property I'd imagine though.

£5k ha ha ok do my conversion please, all using skilled qualified trades with a completion certificate from eacj trade and the council for compliance to building regs, pm me your details you have the job.
£5k ha ha i am laughing all the way to the bank

WestonDave

Its also worth considering the size of the garage - a lot of 1960's garages were built to accomodate the cars of that time. If you bear in mind that as a guide, everytime a new model is launched - i.e. different versions of the Astra etc, the width increases by around an inch, you'll soon see that often older garages are no longer practical to store a car in. If the garage is not usable for a car, then arguably its better being a usable room than a scruffy store area. We bought our house knowing full well that we'd never get our car in it because at the time the boiler was floor mounted at the back. Previous owner was in her 80's and had a tiny little car which did fit - we have a car for a family of 4 and its never going to be possible to get it in there and get out of the car (unless we cut a sunroof in the car!)

sunshinetours

skintchick wrote: »

Well, all i can say is a garage conversion appears to have added 25k to houses in our street!

My house is on the market for 250k, we are mid terrace, with garage, but have taken back boiler out of lounge, and redone bathroom to high spec (we did that for us not to sell).

Neighbour is end terrace, smaller garden, garage is converted to study/dining room, back boiler and associated hideous brick fireplace still in situ, basic bathroom, on for 275k.

Only differecne is we went on the market 6 months ago and she has just gone on (spring market?), so it seems it does make a difference but mostly I think it is the agents pushing prices up cos the conversion would cost maximum 5k and surely can;t add THAT much value.

Depends on your area and property I'd imagine though.

If its done to building regs and properly signed off - unless they did the work themselves I doubt it cost £5k. Also its added nothing as yet as the house hasn;t sold from your post. ASking price means nothing. The fact that its end terrace may add more value than the conversion

As to the OP there are plenty of posts on here if you use the search function on "garage conversion" and you will see plenty of arguments for and against - really does depend on your own house circumstances and parking and otehr avaialble storage space for bikes, tools etc

Ours has worked well for us but we have a parking for 3/4 cars anyway and a large garden which we could include a large shed and a cabin which doubles as extra storage

Don't underestimate your storage requirements without a garage!

Doozergirl

shane42 wrote: »

£5k ha ha ok do my conversion please, all using skilled qualified trades with a completion certificate from eacj trade and the council for compliance to building regs, pm me your details you have the job.
£5k ha ha i am laughing all the way to the bank

I'm thinking it's entirely possible. If it's a simple reception room then it's really quite easy - simple enough that feeling adventurous, it's the sort of project that a good DIYer could take on quite easily!

And then I realise I'm actually just watching a programme right now where not only are they converting the garage but building a new enuite bedroom over the top of it for £9k.

shane42

Doozergirl wrote: »

I'm thinking it's entirely possible. If it's a simple reception room then it's really quite easy - simple enough that feeling adventurous, it's the sort of project that a good DIYer could take on quite easily!

And then I realise I'm actually just watching a programme right now where not only are they converting the garage but building a new enuite bedroom over the top of it for £9k.

ok lets consider this; in virtually all cases the floor needs to be insulated possibley dug up first as the depth is not enough BC will want about 300mm of cellotex or similar add the DPM, labour to do this skips to remove, thats about 2.5k gone before you really start, electrics plumbing best part of 1 k, brick work plus window say 1.5 k, so 5k as a minimum before you plaster board and plaster ,plus you need to insulate the walls and the celing, do you already have an adjoing door is it in the right place, fees to BC decorating cost etc the list goes on , you wont do a professional job for 5 k