Our garage is one part of the home that at some point, everyone has vowed to keep clean and organized. It also has a tendency to become the homes storage centre. As many of us can probably attest, it’s not uncommon to see cars parked in the driveway due to a cluttered garage filled with yard tools, bikes, toys etc. What many don’t realize is that an organized garage will not only look great, but it can help the resale value of your home down the road, should you choose to sell.
While organizing a garage will take some time and effort, it can be easily achieved with some quick fixes. If you were ever thinking about having a garage sale, now might be the perfect time. After all, they’re called “garage sales” for a reason.
The first recommendation would be to familiarize yourself with what exactly is in your garage. Do you need the old newspapers in boxes from your last move? Have the kids grown out of those bikes? Will you ever use they dusty table saw in the back corner? Once you establish what it is you want to purge and what is you want to keep, you will be able to move on to the next step; organization.
Try to group your items into categories like: toys, seasonal, lawn care, automotive etc. Once that has been established, you can decide how you want it organized. Stores like Walmart, Home Depot and Canadian Tire offer many different storage products that are not only affordable, but customizable. Consider placing shelving along the ceiling of the garage to open up floor space for your vehicles. Storage bins are also a great idea. Consider defining a garbage and recycling area that is convenient and out of the way. If you really want to take organization to the next level, consider a label maker so that you know exactly what everything is and where it is.
If during your clean-up you find that you have hazardous materials such as old paint cans, car batteries etc. that you need to dispose of, please visit the City of Burlington’s website at https://www.burlington.ca/en/services-for-you/garbage-and-recycling.asp to find out where and how to properly get rid of such materials.
When all is said and done, you will not only find your garage more accessible – when you’re ready to sell, it’s one last task you’ll be facing.