If You’ve Got A Garage, A House, And A Desire To Sell It All.

You’ve Got To Read This First.

 

78% of people are looking for houses with a garage, whether it’s for storage space or a way to keep their valuable out of the elements. A Garage is a must.

With that being said here are some ways to get the most out of your garage, improve the value of your house, and get one step closer to getting a “sold” sign in the yard.

 

Chapter 1: Clean it out

Sure, you love Susie’s first bike, and you want to hold onto Billy’s boxes of old clothes and toys. What you might see as sentimental items,to a potential buyer it might just look like a bunch of junk piled out of sight in the garage.  

When I see a cluttered garage, I think dirt. Dirt,bugs and something that’ll bite me in the corner.

If a potential buyer see’s the clutter they’ll be imagining how quickly they themselves will get it just as dirty, we’ve got to sell them the dream.

“Look how clean it is”

“No, you’ll take care of your wonderful garage the same way we have”

“It’s going to be great”

These are the thoughts a clean garage can bring into the minds of people with interest.

Okay so we know we need to clean… but how?

Step 1: Hang things up

Hooks,bins and holders will be your best friend. From Mops, to chainsaws everything has a place and a way to hang it up.

Step 2: Reorganize

 More than two thirds of houses with two door garages park their cars outside because they have to much junk in the garage.Your best bet is to take everything out and determine what you actually need. Make a List.

• Trash
• Keep
• Donate
• Do I love It?
• Do I need It?
• But do I really need it?

For things that don’t make the list, consider a yard sale, while it might seem like a lot of work. It’s worth it. According to Statistics Brain, a research group, garage sales generate $4.2 million in weekly revenue.

Whoa… who knew right?

Step 3:Clean,Clean, Clean

With everything out of the garage, it’s time to clean.Put that broom to use! Put on a mask. (Garages can house mouse droppings, bugs, chemicals, and all sorts of things you don’t want to breathe in.) and start from the ceiling.

Use natural cleaner for the floors,cabinets, door handle etc.

Stains?

Whether it’s oil, paint or rust check out this article to learn how to remove it, spending less then $20

Step 4: Epoxy Flooring (Optional)

This last step is optional, but will add great value to your garage.

I don’t know about you but I never knew the name of the paint (epoxy) but I always thought “this looks great” it transforms a dingy, untrustworthy garage into just another welcoming room in the house.

For a tutorial on how to do this yourself click HERE

So get organized, and clean up a bit. It never hurts to scrub and mop the floor the week of, just make sure to get all the extra water out, leaving a nice,clean smelling garage.

I’ve Done all that so what’s next?

Chapter 2: Fix it or Replace It

A broken garage is almost as bad as no garage at all. There’s not a home-buyer out there looking to get a new house that comes with a handyman project down the road.

Lucky for you Regency Garage Doors of Houston put together a quick list of easy DIY garage door maintenance tips

Step 1:Tighten All The Garage Door Hardware

You probably don’t realize that you open and close your garage door over a thousand times a year, on average. All that frequent movement inevitably loosens the hardware that holds everything together. You can perform the maintenance to prevent this yourself by using a socket wrench to tighten the roller brackets and bolts.  

Step 2:Inspect The Rollers And Replace If Needed

Garage door rollers (made of steel or nylon), should be examined at least twice a year and replaced every seven years or so. If you notice chipped, cracked, or worn rollers, they need to be replaced as soon as possible. You can do this yourself by removing and replacing roller brackets that aren’t attached directly to the cable system. If you’re uncomfortable doing this yourself, it’s also an easy fix for a garage door repair professional.

 

Step 3: Test the Springs

If the door isn’t balanced correctly, the garage door opener will have to work harder than it should, which will cause it to wear out sooner. Check your garage door balance by pulling the release handle (usually a red cord) to disconnect the opener, then manually move the door up about halfway. Let go of the door. If it slides down at all, the counterweight system (springs) aren’t properly balanced. The next step is to call in professionals to adjust your garage door springs.

Step 4: Clear The Tracks

Check the tracks on both sides of the door to make sure they’re free from debris and dirt. You can remove debris yourself. Then use a leveler to check the plumb. If anything looks uneven, keep in mind that actual track adjustments to restore garage door balance should only be completed by a professional garage door technician.

 

There you have it, 4 garage maintenance tips from the pro’s at Regency Garage Doors

As your garage doors age, there are many different problems that can arise that may have you asking, is it time for a garage door replacement?

Or is this a problem that can be repaired?

Here’s a breakdown of the most common issues that require garage door services, and the best fix for them.

The Door Stops Opening/Closing.

Your first fear might be that your garage door has died completely and you need a total garage door replacement. However, there are several possibilities for why your door stopped opening. Sudden breakdowns can actually be quite easy for a professional to fix. Before you call, check the garage door remote batteries—easy DIY fix! However, if it’s not the batteries, call a professional for any other issue. Most of the time the problem can be solved without needing to install new doors.

The Door Feels “Heavy.”

Your doors may just need a new spring in their step! The garage lift mechanism contains springs to help raise the door. Since garage doors are heavy, the motor would have to work extremely hard to raise the doors without the assistance of springs, causing a lot of wear on the motor. Springs also allow you to lift the door by hand if your home lost power and the motor went down. So, if your door seems heavy to lift by hand, or your motor seems to be running slow, there could be a problem with the springs. Fortunately, worn springs are a simple garage door service fix—don’t wait until the springs snap completely to call someone. Also, be sure to have all springs replaced at the same time, to maintain balance.

 The Door is Imbalanced.

Test this by stopping your garage door midway through opening. Does one side look lower? If so, you may have an imbalanced garage door. This can cause your lifting mechanism to work extra hard, leading to unnecessary wear and tear. It could be that one spring has begun to wear down, putting uneven stress on the motor. Rebalancing the door is a fairly easy fix, similar to replacing the springs. A professional will replace both springs then re-hang the door to restore balance.

One Panel is Damaged.

Physical damage to your garage door, usually caused by a car collision or weather, will most likely have you considering repair or replacement. The good news is, if only one panel is affected, then total garage door replacement probably won’t be necessary! Most garage door manufacturers supply single panels to simplify fixes like this. Keep in mind, however, that replacing multiple panels could end up costing just as much as installing a new garage door

Now that we know the most common Garage Door problems and their DIY solutions, let’s keep reading to learn what problems will likely need a replacement garage door to remedy.

More serious problems can arise that make replacement garage doors a better choice in the long run. Installing new doors, in these cases, can often save you stress and costs as you avoid potential problems down the road.

The Following are Examples of Problems that require replacement.

The Door is Seriously Damaged.

Sometimes, repairing portions of a damaged garage door can cost as much (or more!) as replacing the entire door. In certain situations, replacement parts don’t make sense as a long-term solution when it costs just as much as garage door installation.

The Door Has Had Long-term Glitches.

Issues that arise suddenly can often be repaired, but an ongoing issue that has been present for months or years usually ends up needing complete replacement. This is because if the door has been functioning at partial capacity, it can put extreme wear and tear on the motor and other parts, causing them to break sooner than they should. Even a small issue in the lifting mechanism that occurs consistently can cause irreparable damage over time.

The Door Lacks Security Features.

Another advantage of newer doors is their enhanced security features; older doors are notoriously prone to break-ins through techniques such as universal remotes, which newer doors can protect against. If you’ve had a break-in through your garage door, it’s wise to replace the entire door because the same or different burglars could access your home again in the same way. Changing your security code is inadequate, since you can’t be sure how the thief accessed your old code initially. If the thief managed to disengage your motor, then there’s likely a flaw in the door’s design. The safest route is to install a new garage door, with up-to-date security features.

The Door is an Energy-Drainer.

Energy efficiency is another important way in which new garage doors are better than old ones. Every time your garage doors open, it lets a lot of air into your home, which impacts your energy bill. New doors are designed with energy efficiency in mind, and include top-of-the-line insulation to keep your garage, and your home, as insulated as possible. You’ll be surprised how quickly the investment in garage door replacement will pay off in savings on your energy bill!

The Door is Out of Fashion.

There’s just no quick fix to completely change the style of your door, if you’re looking to enhance its curb appeal.

While a coat of paint can help, garage door design has changed a lot over the years and there are definitely current fashion trends that only a new door can accomplish. Garage door replacement is a great way to boost the value and overall impression of your home, especially if your garage is highly visible from the front of your house.

The team of professionals at Regency Garage Doors would be happy to help diagnose your garage door replacement or repair needs! Call us today at (713) 208-5255.

So You’ve gotten this far

We’ve Cleaned it, fixed it or replaced it. We’re ready for our first showing! You’re one step closer to getting the highest offer possible on your home, and if you’re not selling then you’ve got a squeaky clean fully functional garage.

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