Thinking of Converting Your Garage Into Living Space? You'd Better Read This First

Although about 80 percent of American homeowners have a garage, the majority use theirs primarily or entirely as a storage space. This may make converting your garage seem like an attractive prospect if you need more space, but this idea can backfire when the time comes to sell your home. While converting your garage is cheaper and easier than adding an extension on to your home, many buyers may actually prefer the garage over the additional living space. This is especially true in places where parking is hard to get.

Key Takeaways:

80 percent of Americans have a garage or carport, but do not use it to park their cars.
It is generally cheaper to convert a garage into a living space than it is to add a room onto your house.
In some cities, such as Boston, it costs so much money to park a car that most home buyers will want a garage they can use for its intended purpose.

“But before you transform this area, think about how this reno will affect resale down the road.”