As a buyer would you be put off by no garage?

[Callingallskeletons]

Our house has a separate garage, small back garden huge drive (room for at least 4 cars but not fully practical for more than 2 unless willing to climb out of the car via passenger door and jump out onto next doors drive) but as we only have 2 cars this is fine for us

The problem is our garage, it is set back from the house and takes up half the back garden - it is full to the brim of junk (not useful junk we can’t fit in the house but utter crap) and we very rarely set foot in there

Unfortunately when we bought the house the garage roof was damaged (survey didn’t pick it up) and it was letting water in, we tried to patch it as best we could and it has held for a few years (and like I said we very rarely go in there)

However now the damage has become quite significant and the inner ceiling is completely covered with black mould, We’ve had a few online quotes for repair work but now we are wondering if actually we’re better just knocking it down

The bonus of this would be it would virtually double the size of our garden, we could build a metal shed for the limited items we would actually keep (lawn mower, ladders etc) and we would have loads of room for a decking area and a much bigger area for the DC to play and keep their outdoor toys - The only thing putting us off is whether ultimately it would damage our chances of selling in the future/devalue our house??

Would it put you off as a prospective buyer to have no garage?

So not to drip feed we live in a great area, relatively low crime rates, fairly normal neighbours, brilliant schools, up and coming high street and great travel links to bigger towns/airports/train station etc which would all work in our favour but would we be shooting ourselves in the foot to get rid of the garage altogether?

Both houses we have lived in we have converted the garage to a room. I have never parked a car inside a garage.

Honestly as long as there was storage to replace the garage in the way of a decent shed then no. We did the same, knocked down the garage and replaced with a shed and don’t regret it all. No one, literally no one I know uses their garage for a car, it’s just a big shed / dumping ground for junk, so as long as there’s a shed to use for all the crap then a bigger garden is going to be a much better selling feature.

A structurally sound garage of sufficient length was on our 'must' list. As it is, we've compromised on having a car port.
We needed covered storage/parking for a 16ft canoe, a trailer, and a motorbike.

Some people need garages. Some don't. But mostly not for cars these days unless they are massive.

My road was built with garages set back from the house and most of them have been demolished. The garden is loads better without the garage and there's still a drive for those that want to park off road but most people just park on the road.

Would put us off as we have an old car that needs a garage.

I’ve never had a garage. The absence of one wouldn’t put me off a house in future.

Lack of off-street parking for 2 cars would be a no-no, however.

Much rather have a bigger garden than a garage

For me as there is somewhere to park (which in your house case there is since you have a drive) then a garage is a 'nice to have' rather than essential.

We use our garage a lot so I wouldn’t be without one.

Wouldn’t put me off. I find single garages so narrow they are often useless

Wouldn't put me off but I did read a garage adds 10% of value to a house. So would knocking it down rather than repairing it lower the value.?

Saying that if you live there and would prefer the larger garden do what suits you... Unless you're planning on moving soon.

It would put us off, although we don’t park a car in the garage we like to have secure, fully weatherproof storage. However if you’re planning to stay there for a decent amount of time then I think it’s more important that the house works for you rather than potential buyers.

We did convert a garage at a previous property (half storage / half office) and when we came to sell the estate agent said it had knocked about £10k off the value. That might just be our area but something to think about if you’re planning on moving anytime soon.

I think that having the garden appeals to as many people as having a garagedoes, so you are fine either way. So just do what suits you! Personally if my garage was set back into my garden I would totally want to knock it down and replace with a big shed and a car port. Be aware though sheds do Quickly fill up once you get a family’s worth of bikes in there and you may need a pretty big shed to store all your stuff!

I couldn't give two hoots, but DH has 2 motorbikes and won't love anywhere without a garage.

*live

I suppose love too!

It would put me off, because I desperately want a garage - but I think I'm rare in wanting one. A badly damaged garage with a leaky roof would put me off, too.

Wouldn’t bother me as long as there was off-street parking. My house doesn’t have a garage and it’s no problem for us.

Fab thank you!

We moved to this house from a house with no off street parking and swore never to be without it again but as I’ve said we have a massive drive and room out the front of the house too for visitors

Typically every other house in our street does still have their garage so would be going against the grain but I just think we could make so much better use out of the space (and we’d be without a condemned garage 😂)

I just don’t want to completely alienate ourselves from prospective future buyers

And we would definitely have a shed for usual household extras and garden bits

@Time40

It would put me off, because I desperately want a garage - but I think I'm rare in wanting one. A badly damaged garage with a leaky roof would put me off, too.

That’s our other thinking is that the rest of the garage isn’t in the best condition so even if we completely replaced the roof it may still put off future buyers

Garages would actively put me off, because they’re ugly, full of spiders and encourage you to hoard!

If there was a workshop/good large shed and off road parking I wouldn't be bothered about the garage. We actually took our garage down (built an annexe instead). Cars don't need to be inside now that the paintwork etc has been improved. That said we will put up a carport at some point but it's a nice-to-have for me, rather than a must-have.

Our neighbours knocked down a double garage at the back of their garden and have replaced it with a big garden room / home theatre space. Looks rather good and probably adds to the value I think. They've got a long drive down the side of the garden still.

Our house only has a front driveway (room for one car only) and the integral garage was converted to a study by the previous owners. We definitely need that space more than a garage!

Sounds like knocking down what you've got and considering carefully what should or shouldn't go in its place is a good plan.

We've just converted our garage. Not many places round by us have one anyway.

Wouldn't put me off. I'd rather have a bigger garden. Plus presumably buyers won't know what used to be there unless you tell them, so they won't miss it?
No driveway or driveway that won't fit 2 cars is what instantly would put me off a property.
Another thought- with the amount of people still wfh is it worth looking at replacing garage with small garden office instead? Not sure how much value that would add versus cost of installation but we converted our outbuilding to an office back in August and was best decision ever. We are unlikely to buy in future any house that doesn't have a room (inside or out) that can be used as an office space.