Does Removing Garage Door Impact Value?

thelastofman

I’ve heard a few people say that if you’re converting a garage into living space and replace the up and over garage doors with a normal door and windows, your house will reduce in value. This is because you can no longer market it with a garage. Given that many people want a garage to be able to make use of the space for another reason than parking a car, what’s the rationale behind this? Is there any truth to it?

Surely a house with a converted garage is a plus as it means the new buyers needn’t worry about converting it. How many buyers are actually looking for a garage to keep it as a garage?

MalMonroe

You could ask any estate agent what they would advise. In fact, two or three agents just to get the general picture. When I lived in a house with a garage I have to say that my family and I just used the garage for storage and would have loved to be able to get a car into it! But then again we had two cars and both fitted nicely onto the drive. The only time it was emptied was when we moved. 

I honestly don't think it will put people off buying a property. Especially if there is a driveway so that they can get their car off the road. I'd only worry if I lived in an area where it didn't feel safe to leave my car outside. I have lived in such an area and my car was vandalised on a regular basis until I was able to rent a garage from the council. Where I live now my neighbours are lovely and far too civilised to do such a thing. 

Not everyone wants a property where the garage has been converted but some folk do. I'm sure a couple of local estate agents will be able to let you know their opinions.

comeandgo

Always had at least a single garage and would never look at a house that did not have a garage even though we have space for six cars on drive.  

Chloe_G

I use my garage for my car and when I move I fully intend to try to buy another house with a garage that houses a car.

HampshireH

When we look at moving we will be looking for a garage not a conversion.

The stuff I want to store in a garage (possibly including a car depending on the size) I wouldn't want to store in my house.

A garage conversion just wouldn't be on my radar unless someone had built a freestanding one to compensate (most unlikely on an estate set up and definitely going to be beyond my financial capability)

Section62

thelastofman said:

I’ve heard a few people say that if you’re converting a garage into living space and replace the up and over garage doors with a normal door and windows, your house will reduce in value. This is because you can no longer market it with a garage. Given that many people want a garage to be able to make use of the space for another reason than parking a car, what’s the rationale behind this? Is there any truth to it?

Surely a house with a converted garage is a plus as it means the new buyers needn’t worry about converting it. How many buyers are actually looking for a garage to keep it as a garage?

If I see a house with a converted garage but retaining the up-and-over door I immediately think "bodge" and will keep that - and the possibility of a breach of planning/BR/covenants - in mind until proven otherwise.

If it is necessary/worth converting the garage then it makes sense to do the whole garage and do it properly.  Leaving the garage doors in place - except in exceptional circumstances - would suggest to me that either someone is taking shortcuts, or they aren't very good at property design.

Having a converted garage is only a plus to people who want more space and don't want/need a garage.

Megaross

You'd be surprised.

A lot of people want a garage for cars or motorbikes or general vehicle workshop purposes. Motorbikes especially - theft is a huge issue and many people don't like keeping them in the elements.

There's also people who use it for storage, pushbikes, golf clubs, tools for work, fishing gear, small business type stuff like selling things and loading is easier via a garage door.

Garages are incredibly useful things, an extra room is less versatile.

SpeakingFranglais

I would never buy a house with a garage conversion for all the reasons above. Our garage doesn’t house a car but a beer fridge and chest freezer, recycling boxes, bikes, ski boots, golf clubs and trollies, suitcases, wakeboarding gear. Where would I put all this without a garage? 

A part converted double garage would be a consideration providing there was also space to park at least two cars.

that said, all the garage conversions on new builds I’ve seen look like random narrow rectangle box type rooms full of kids toys and large flat screen TVs. Not something I would want in the house anyway.

_Sam_

I think it is obvious that people hoping to buy a house with a garage are unlikely to be interested in your house since it doesn’t have a garage (following conversion). While people who don’t need a garage will be interested. One question could  be which “group” is larger - i.e. is it easier to sell a house with a garage or without, given the interest out there.

A different question seems to be about value and perhaps this is what you had in mind, is say a 2 bedroom house with a garage likely to be worth more money than a 3 bedroom house without a garage (where one bedroom is the converted garage).

Silvertabby

Our integral garage isn't huge, and it became more and more difficult with each new (bigger) car to park in there.

Finally threw in the towel with our new T-Cross (Polo chassis, but chubster body) and converted the garage into a man cave/workshop with side hinged double doors.

We have no plans to move, but any future buyer would be able to garage a motorbike/cycles and the drive is big enough for at least 2 cars.

Doozergirl

thelastofman said:

I’ve heard a few people say that if you’re converting a garage into living space and replace the up and over garage doors with a normal door and windows, your house will reduce in value. This is because you can no longer market it with a garage. Given that many people want a garage to be able to make use of the space for another reason than parking a car, what’s the rationale behind this? Is there any truth to it?

Surely a house with a converted garage is a plus as it means the new buyers needn’t worry about converting it. How many buyers are actually looking for a garage to keep it as a garage?

People saying that haven't done the maths. 

If you look at the price of living space per square metre where you live, a garage can be an incredibly lucrative piece of real estate once converted.  

Where I live, houses are perhaps £3000 per square metre.  That's probably around national
average right now, not an expensive area.  The value of a modest garage converted into a room could be £72,000 - I could definitely build something decent in the garden that would hold ski gear and a chest freezer items for less than £72,000.   Designed cleverly, it would also take up less space than a garage does.  

If you need more living space, then converting a garage is a bit of a no brainer for a lot of people.   Not everyone, but with house prices where they are, it certainly isn't a case that converting a garage reduces value.  It is the opposite.  

Yes, some people insist on garages but maybe they would think more imaginatively if they appreciated the value.  As much as there are people who want garages, there is a different buyer who just needs as much living space as they can get and need bang for buck.  For those people, 150 square metres of living space is always going to be more valuable than 125 square metres and a garage.