Garage conversion

[missingtheaction]

I have a town house style property with a garage downstairs. The garage is a bit too small for every day use although I can squeeze my Golf in if absolutely necessary.

I also have one dedicated and one shared off road parking space, and plenty of space for cars to turn/guest cars etc.

If I converted the garage to a study and utility room, do you think it would increase the value of the house or decrease it? (I'm not planning to put it on the market at the moment).

Wouldn't like to hazard a guess myself. I wonder if Sarah Beeny is a Mumsnetter? Bumping for you.

Of course it would increase the value of the house. Adding liveable square footage always does.

How much d'you think it will cost Missing?

does it really add value? Does it reduce saleability? When house hunting a few years ago we immediately discounted houses that had done this.

I would much rather have liveable space indoors than somewhere to keep my car dry..

I think most people would, wouldn't they? especially if there is an allotted space anyway.

Depends how well it was done and whether it looked weird from the outside. Some can look terrible - my PILs had one that had a big step down from the other rooms into it. Not very convincing...!

I've been told it doesn't add value but won't decrease it either.
However it might believe it or not stop it selling.
There was a huge 5 bed detached by us which was beautifully done throughout however he'd converted the double garage into a play/pool/games room and it didn't sell in 4 years (they were getting divorced so she didn't care). Anyway one day the garage doors went back on and 2 months later it sold, big reduction off the asking price too, clearly he thought his pool room added £50k to the value

We have been looking into this, the general consensus is that it may put off potential buyers.
Garages are useful for storage etc, personally I would prefer more room in my house but from what I have been told it does lessen the saleability, sorry!

i would ask local estate agents...sometimes losing the garage decreases value...but with the market the way it is atm....maybe that's changed?

We looked into this a few months ago, and agents thought it would reduce saleability. Like you we've got one off-road parking space and one on street space, but the garage gives the illusion of having an extra parking space (even though we use it as a shed and general dumping ground).

Better to sell, imo, by promoting the possibility of converting the garage should a buyer want that.

If you're going to stay there for years and years then it might be different - worth making it into a house that suits you and your needs.

I've currently got a integral garage with a step down kerb. I've planning permission to turn it into a room which I'm going to do this year. My existing kitchen is a galley style and too small so my plan is to make the garage a kitchen instead (garage door replaced with window, brick work to match rest of house). Plus I'd put up a garden wall where driveway would have been.

I've had estate agents round to value house and general concensus is it will add value (bigger kitchen, easy building work) and because street parking is not a problem then a dedicated garage isn't overly sought after in my area.

Make sure whatever you do, the room has a proper use and its done to a high standard.

Webchick if it's only on street parking I would not go ahead I thought you were going to say you had a huge drive.

Our neighbours did this and told everyone it would increase the value. They found it really difficult to sell as people wanted a garage.

we have done this. have study/playroom. plenty of off st parking. we have done ours to a good standard and everyone who sees it loves it. if you want to do it , do it for yourself not re sale.

We converted our garage into a dining room and have house on the market. It cancels itself out - so only do it for yourself if you want the space. It neither decreases or increases value as some people would prefer a garage and some an extra room.

Thanks everyone - i guess 'It Depends'. I think I will do it for myself as it will hugely improve our living arrangements, and keep my fingers crossed that it doesn't make too much difference to saleability in the long run. The off-street parking we'll be left with is well above average for what people expect round here so it shouldn't be too detrimental.