Photo by Flickr user Salim Virji.
These days fewer and fewer homes tend to have garages. It seems that the average homeowner would much rather have an extra room in their home than a space to park their car, and so they often target their garages and convert them into guest rooms, studies, or dining rooms.
But if you’re thinking of doing the same then you should think twice before you go ahead: garages actually have a lot of benefits over regular rooms in your home and there are tons of great reasons to keep them. Read on to find out just a few of the compelling arguments for keeping a garage.
It Can Bring Down Insurance
The first reason to keep a garage is that it can help to reduce your insurance costs. It does this, of course, by allowing you to park your car not only off-road but also under shelter so that it doesn’t get rained on, hailed on, or vandalized. This can help you convince insurance companies that they are less likely to have to pay out for repairs and thus you can get a much better deal that will save you money.
And best of all – that argument is actually true. That in itself should be more than enough reason to keep your car in the garage; even with insurance, getting your car stolen or damaged is still going to cost you and be a big nuisance when you need to get to work. Of course, this is also a nice offer to be able to extend to your guests when they come around.
It Frees Up Your Front Garden
If you need to park one or more cars on your front drive then that means you won’t be able to use that front garden for much else because you’ll need to keep it clear so you have space to maneuver. This means you can’t turn the space into a nice place to sit and enjoy an outdoor meal in the summer, and it means you can’t turn it into another beautiful garden that passers-by will be able to admire. Sure, you might gain another room if you convert your garage, but you’ll also potentially lose a garden.
The Wonders of an Outside Space
Better yet, having a garage means having a space that is away from the home but also under shelter. This is ideal for a vast range of activities – whether you are a carpenter and want to do woodwork, you want to do your own mechanic work on your car, or you want a space to workout. In the garage, it doesn’t matter how much noise you make or how much mess you make. At the same time, this is also a great place to turn into a ‘man cave’ or an office because it will be away from the rest of the house and will thus mean you can go here to get privacy. They won’t be able to hear you, but you also won’t be able to hear them.
It’s Great for Storage
If you have a guest room then you’ll want to keep it looking relatively nice or risk insulting your guests. On the other hand, a garage can provide the perfect space to just ‘sling’ everything that you’re not using and that you don’t have a home for. This way you can turn it into a storage space like an attic or basement, except without as much risk of your things getting eaten by insects or leaked on. If you have an old piece of furniture you hope to sell, or if you have a box of old memories, then this is the perfect place to store them.
These are just a few of the benefits of having a garage too. There are many more which you may be taking for granted, so think long and hard before you get rid of it. It might just be that it needs a new lick of paint and some nice new doors – there’s no reason that a garage can’t still be a very nice place to spend your time!
Author Bio: Vikram Shenoy, is a freelance blogger who likes to write about lifestyle, home improvement, music and more. You can also follow him on twitter @ShenoyTrivikram.
Top 4 Reasons Not to Convert Your Garage into a Room for Your Home by Sarah
