Would this raise or lower resale value?

[lovemachine]

At my house, I have a large attached 2-car garage. At the back of the garage, I have my home gym and a woodshop, which also has a 1/2 bathroom. I also have a wall space heater that runs on LP.

With this cold weather, it has limited the time I can stay out there in my gym/woodshop. And that is not good. It's my go-to place. Even with the heater on high, it just isn't large enough to warm that entire garage. Especially with the heat loss from the 2 garage doors.

I've been considering putting up a wall to separate my gym/woodshop from the rest of the garage. While it's been nice keeping that area open to the rest of the garage, I do like the idea of having a separate shop as well.

In your opinion, how would this affect resale value? While I love my house, I can't guarantee my wife and I will never move to a larger place. Our house is small, 2 bedroom, but it's very nice.

When buying a house, is it a plus having a large garage, or is it a plus having a separate work room in the garage?

 

[Que]

Is it a condo? I've not seen a two-bedroom house before.

I dont believe your your upgrade would deminish value in any way. It's not something that is out of the ordinary.

 

[lovemachine]

No condo, it's s brick house.

 

[SEIndSAM]

As long as the walls being built are not load bearing, and can easily be removed, I don't think it would affect the value one way or the other.

 

[TexasRedneck]

Done properly and with forethought, there's no reason that you couldn't easily remove the wall prior to listing it for sale.

Yes - it WOULD hurt resale 99% of the time, but if you plan it, you can maximize your enjoyment without doing harm to the value. Just keep in mind that it's a "temporary wall" as you build it, and enjoy!

 

[Jeepster48439]

As long as the result allows for parking a Ford F-250HD, Quad Cab with 6' bed in what would be the resulting garage you should be good.

 

[lovemachine]

The wall would definetely be built for load bearing. It would be permanent.

It's a wood shop, I would want to have peg board on the walls to hold all my tools.

 

[possum_128]

The wall would definetely be built for load bearing. It would be permanent.

It's a wood shop, I would want to have peg board on the walls to hold all my tools.

Uh, load bearing means it supports the roof, not your peg board tools.

 

[lovemachine]

Uh, load bearing means it supports the roof, not your peg board tools.

I know. And you know what I meant.

 

[CindyE]

We did this to our detached garage last year. The heated room includes workshop and reloading bench. There's room for our 2 motorcycles, and there are dog crates in one corner, for our furkids who stay out there sometimes. We also have a window A/C. We are really happy with it.

 

[Rookie]

If the wall runs parallel to the roof joists, it could be a permanent wall, but it wouldn't be a load bearing wall.

 

[Indyhd]

If the wall is not there now and you add it, it is not a load bearing wall in any way.

 

[spec4]

I would guess you don't have a basement. Consider skipping this project/expense and list in the spring, sell, and buy a house that meets your needs.

 

[Bfish]

I would say it would raise the retail value because then it becomes its own space and not just part of the garage. For the mean time get yourself a torpedo heater that runs on kerosene. My large garage that holds a truck, table saw, work bench, 4 wheeler, and a couple tractors is now heated by a furnace. But before that was all hooked up a torpedo heater did the job no problem, they have a decent BTU output and I like the heat that comes off of them actually! Mine even has a thermostat for when I'm in the garage most of the day I don't have to mess with it.

 

[HoughMade]

If the wall is not there now and you add it, it is not a load bearing wall in any way.

Unless the roof is currently on it's way to the floor.

 

[possum_128]

I know. And you know what I meant.

It's sad but true, I did know.

 

[eldirector]

As long as the garage is still usable as a garage (park a vehicle or two), then it shouldn't impact the value one way or another.

If it becomes a room with a garage door, then I can't imagine it helping the resale value.

Just my $0.02

edit/additionally: stick a better heater out there and don't worry about it.

 

[HoughMade]

As long as the garage is still usable as a garage (park a vehicle or two), then it shouldn't impact the value one way or another.

If it becomes a room with a garage door, then I can't imagine it helping the resale value.

Just my $0.02

edit/additionally: stick a better heater out there and don't worry about it.

If it were me, and it's not obviously, I would spend my money on better insulated garage doors (or an insulation kit) and a better insulated garage. There is no doubt that would help resale. One cheap thing to do first is make sure the garage doors are fit tightly (no more tha 1/4" play from the jamb) and all the seals, bottom, sides and top are in place. I did this on my house and it makes a difference.

 

[CindyE]

If it were me, and it's not obviously, I would spend my money on better insulated garage doors (or an insulation kit) and a better insulated garage. There is no doubt that would help resale. One cheap thing to do first is make sure the garage doors are fit tightly (no more tha 1/4" play from the jamb) and all the seals, bottom, sides and top are in place. I did this on my house and it makes a difference.

We did all that with ours, but still opted for putting up a wall and doors. We insulated that wall, too. Because we wanted to fit our Harleys in there, we needed a wide door. We ended up going with some French doors we found on sale. I'm almost positive we have under $800 in that wall and doors. If we did decide to sell, it would be easy to return to just a garage. It is just a nicer, more comfortable environment, and we enjoy it. I'm sure it will save us heating/cooling cost in the long run, too.

 

[lovemachine]

If it were me, and it's not obviously, I would spend my money on better insulated garage doors (or an insulation kit) and a better insulated garage. There is no doubt that would help resale. One cheap thing to do first is make sure the garage doors are fit tightly (no more tha 1/4" play from the jamb) and all the seals, bottom, sides and top are in place. I did this on my house and it makes a difference.

I have never priced garage doors before. Any idea how much I'd be looking for something like that?