Garage Organization: 6 Reasons to Organize Your Garage Today!

by Pat Easterbrooks
(Boring, Oregon)

Are you ready to start your garage organization project? If you need motivation, here are 6 great reasons to start Today!

1. Add Value to Your Home.
How often do you see a well-organized garage? For most people, their garage is simply a dumping ground for the stuff they have no room for elsewhere. If the time ever comes that you decide to sell your home, potential buyers will be shocked and pleased by a clean, well organized garage. Really. They will likely think, "Wow, maybe if I buy this house I can experience the same thing." They will also likely be drawn to your house over another comparable house with a messy garage. Creating a clean, well organized garage is a great way to stay ahead of the competition and garner a higher price for your home.

2. Garage Organization Offers Many Savings Opportunities
Save your cars - If you are like the average American, you paid at least $20,000 for your cars. If that is true, why would you leave them outside? As an alternative, why not start your garage organization project today and move your cars inside. Why? Protection from the sun, door dings, neighborhood passersby, etc. Your cars will be forever indebted!

Save money on Mini-Storage - Are you paying for off-site storage? With so many private storage companies in the world, it's likely you may answer with an unfortunate "yes." Clear the junk out of your garage so you can do the same with your off-site storage unit. Are you paying $75, $100 or $125 per month? Ughh! A simple garage organization project will put that money back in your pocket. Get rid of the extra stuff and cancel your off-site storage contract.

Quit buying what you really don't need - Do you really need two or three of every tool in your tool box? Do remember where you put the peg board hooks? Where are your winter sweaters? A place for everything and everything in its place. You know you have heard that. Are you doing it? Start your garage organization project today and never buy another unnecessary tool, sweater, etc.

3. Find Things When You Need Them
Part of the garage organization process it to create storage areas or "zones" within your garage. These "zones" are used to store like items with other like items. For example, if you are an avid fisherman, you should have a "fishing" zone for all of your poles, nets, boots, drift tubes, etc. If your kids are involved in school sports or other athletic pursuits, you should have a "sports" zone for basketballs, soccer balls, tennis rackets, roller blades and other sports and recreation equipment. Seasonal clothing, home decorations, etc., should also be classified and stored in easy-to-find locations. Properly labeled transparent storage boxes are a great tool to help with this phase of your project.

4. Make Some Money
Do you have new or nearly things in your garage that someone else would love to own? With so many marketing options available today, you should sell those items and pocket the cash. Most everyone has heard of Craigslist and Ebay, and most of us have used classified ads in our local paper from time to time. Use one of these options to sell your stuff. Another option is to have a garage sale or take your "valuable items" to a friend's garage sale. The bottom line is that you can and should sell that stuff and use the money for something you really need.

5. Transform Your Garage into Something New
Do you have a health club membership? A well-organized garage opens the door to having your own health club at home, in your garage. If you are a woodworker, a new garage workbench could push you to the next level. If you paint, you could set up your own gallery in the garage. The possibilities are endless, but that only applies if you get started and don't quit until your garage organization project is done.

6. Peace of Mind
This is my personal favorite. I love to walk into a clean garage. Rather, I hate walking into a disorganized garage with piles of C.R.A.P. lying everywhere. Your "someday" can be today! And when you are finished, you can walk into your garage and breathe a healthy sigh of relief. Ahhhhh, that really was worth it!

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Pat Easterbrooks is the editor of GarageHowTo.com providing practical information on building, fixing and organizing garages.
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