Converting integral garage

[chopc]

We are thinking of converting our integral garage into a family room as we don't use the garage for our cars. There is enough space to create a little storage area as well.
In the future we can build a new garage as the plot is big enough but this will not be integral.
How much would an integral garage (with access to the house) matter to you as a buyer?

I prefer garages not to be integrated - the room above always feels cold.
Dont like garage conversions where the garage door is kept to form a mini shed for bikes, lawnmower etc, leaving the extra room windowless. Dont mind them when there is light and proper insulation, and enough parking space left.

Thanks for your response. No I agree. Idea is to make existing garage a part of the house so no garage doors

If you had lots of off street parking, I would be less fussed on a garage but I'd need somewhere to store all my things (eg baby things that number 1 has outgrown), so I'd like some sort of storage space for large items.

I don’t like the idea of petrol fumes inside the house. We have a double integral garage which we use as a storage room. The idea is to get a nice garden shed for all the gardening stuff and then to convert the garage into a gym. Our neighbours have done exactly as you propose and they love it.

If you have off street parking then you’re onto a winner.

Well, if you've got room for an extra garage, you are fine. Everybody uses garages differently. We wouldn't be without ours, as it houses the boiler, extra fridge and freezer, oh's workshop, bikes etc. I don't know anyone who uses a garage for a car round here. I think as long as there is space for an alternative outbuilding, great.

I wouldn’t buy a house without a garage, just because we have so much “stuff” (bikes/scooters/ etc etc). The only reason I like ours being integral is because we use it as a bit of a utility room (extra fridge, tumble drier etc) but I don’t think it would put me off a house if it wasn’t.

We bought a house with a converted integral garage where they'd left the front part as storage (with the existing garage door). They'd added a window in the side but it is still quite dark in there.

The previous owners used it as a teenage "den" so it didn't matter that it was a bit dark, but I wouldn't want to use is as an office or grown up space without doing further work to it and opening up the front part. It hasn't been particularly well insulated, so it's still cold in there (great for drinks storage, particularly in winter!)

My DP desperately wanted a garage to put his car in, but soon realised that most garages nowadays aren't built to modern day car sizes, and his would never have fitted anyway.

For us, the garage room (we still call it the garage) is what any normal integral garage is. Storage and a dart board!

So, to answer your question, it wouldn't bother me too much, but storage is key. If you have sufficient storage elsewhere, then I'd go for it.

We were looking into this too and there were planning restrictions if you didn't have enough off street parking per bedroom. Sounds like that wouldn't be a problem for you.

Thanks for all your advise. Much appreciated