Garage advertised . No access for car

GJB1954

We only are looking for properties that have a garage. This due to visiting relatives abroad. Can be away for a month or longer. 

We find quite often that on advert , states garage. Sometimes when looking at photo’s . Cannot tell if vehicle access to garage is there. Even phoning EA, get answer . Not sure. Some are obvious , yes on photo’s that no vehicle access. So far have not seen on any advert stated if garage, no vehicle access. Comments please. 

steve866

Most the garages I saw wouldn’t fit a modern sized car.

Grumpy_chap

Sometimes this happens, for example when the garage is at the rear of the property and there is a service road.  Access in theory but condition of the service road means no access in practice - in such cases you cannot even assume you'd simply clear the undergrowth and make the service road usable because other residents may view the impassable service road as enhanced security.

Why not just view properties and make assessing access to the garage one of the factors to look at - you may even be able to assess this my doing a walk-past without actually going to a formal viewing.

pulliptears

One on the corner of my street, has drive, has a garage, but the drive isn't really wide enough for a car and the garage door extends around the side of the house.  No way is a car going in there, perhaps why he's churned up all the verges in front of the house with his van and car.  Also perhaps why it's not sold, despite everything else in these parts going within days.

GJB1954

Grumpy_chap said:

Sometimes this happens, for example when the garage is at the rear of the property and there is a service road.  Access in theory but condition of the service road means no access in practice - in such cases you cannot even assume you'd simply clear the undergrowth and make the service road usable because other residents may view the impassable service road as enhanced security.

Why not just view properties and make assessing access to the garage one of the factors to look at - you may even be able to assess this my doing a walk-past without actually going to a formal viewing.

Easy if living in area. Our search is approx four hours drive away. So have to use photo’s and EA information. Have had EA say best to view to find out. Then explain do not want to waste valuable viewing time if no access. 

user1977

I'd have thought it usually fairly simple to check from Google Streetview and the like.

comeandgo

GJB1954 said:

Grumpy_chap said:

Sometimes this happens, for example when the garage is at the rear of the property and there is a service road.  Access in theory but condition of the service road means no access in practice - in such cases you cannot even assume you'd simply clear the undergrowth and make the service road usable because other residents may view the impassable service road as enhanced security.

Why not just view properties and make assessing access to the garage one of the factors to look at - you may even be able to assess this my doing a walk-past without actually going to a formal viewing.

Easy if living in area. Our search is approx four hours drive away. So have to use photo’s and EA information. Have had EA say best to view to find out. Then explain do not want to waste valuable viewing time if no access. 

Can you not view the properties on Google maps?

cattom

garages these days are mostly used to keep old fridge/freezers or broken down washing machines. I use my garage to keep my car in. that's what it was designed for. old fridge/freezers and washing machines go straight to the tip. that's what the tip was designed for.

LoopyLoops

We moved 4 hours away and used google maps / street view to check out the houses and the area.  Then made a short list that we could fit in to view over a couple of days.  

GJB1954

user1977 said:

I'd have thought it usually fairly simple to check from Google Streetview and the like.

Yes use google maps and earth to look. But found that streetview  does not give required info. From asking EA’s most seem not to even realise that as they advertise garage, you cannot get a car into it. As there is obstruction. 

Salemicus

On it's own, this complaint doesn't seem unreasonable. But in the context of your previous threads, it's very revealing. 

You don't want to waste your time viewing a property that isn't to your demanding and idiosyncratic expectations. But the estate agent isn't working for you, he's working for the seller, and most people don't share your concerns, or your reluctance to view houses. It's up to you to qualify the possible properties. That you live far from your search area, and refuse to stay there overnight, is entirely your issue.

You need to be more flexible, both in your approach to house hunting, and in your requirements.