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September 2005
Is
your car still in the driveway? 
If we're approaching the end of summer, maybe it's time
for us to clear the garage out so the car can be driven into it for the
winter.
This idea was, in fact, put forward by a mortgage company that
I find often has some interesting (and, from time to time, provocative)
thoughts to share with people who (like me) subscribe to its monthly
newsletter.
Indeed, I can't help thinking that my own readers can get a few smiles
(as well as some useful tips) if I borrow (with some personal additions)
from what was said in September's article Garages Aren't
Just For Cars Anymore.
What size of
garage do you (really) need?
One of my ongoing observations when I'm showing houses
is how infrequently there's a car in the garage. It doesn't seem
to matter whether we're looking at a single, one-and-a-half, or even a
two or three car garage. Invariably, the family car or cars will
be sitting in the driveway, exposed to and braving all the elements year
in and year out. And meantime the garage is playing host to a grab-bag
of childrens' toys/bikes/what-have-you; a variety of a gardening
equipment; quite likely a (spare?) BBQ set; all manner
and means of handyman tools; and a collection of cardboard boxes
containing heaven knows what -- with all of them safely, warmly, and securely
protected from whatever the weatherman cares to inflict upon us (and our
cars) throughout the different seasons.
I know the truth of it. I've been there and still am. We
moved into our present home more than ten years ago and have yet to get
either of our two cars into its garage!
Onwards and
upwards (in a different sense than the one I often use
in my e-mail messages!)
As the Garages Aren't Just For Cars Anymore article reports,
the size of garages has been increasing over the years, just as the demand
for bigger and better ones has done.
The article's figures are all American, but it's a reasonable assumption
that the Canadian percentages are no different. Thus, it's now estimated
that more than 60% of new homes nationwide have two car garages, while
close to 20% incorporate room for three cars.
This contrasts sharply, of course, with the situation with older
homes -- some of which were built when people simply used horses for getting
around. Here the single car garage is frequently an exception rather
than a rule, especially when we 're considering the long established downtown
areas of a town or city. However, you can safely bet that the owners
will want as much of a garage as they can get when they choose to move.
Even so -- and as the Garages article wryly notes -- "pricey
status vehicles (will end up being) left on display -- at the mercy of
ultraviolet radiation, snow, sleet, wind, and hail -- while the junk
is nestled snug in the garage."
Is there an
answer?
Actually, there is. An author came up with it a few years ago,
the Garages article refers to it, and you can find it at http://www.organized-living.com/articles/orggarage.htm
The underlying principle is, as it were, to give priority (as in pride
of place) to the car(s) and either get rid of what else is taking the space
up or, at the least, to design and institute a system for storing everything
that has hitherto left no room for the car(s). This calls for using
shelving, not to mention wall hangers (for holding the likes of the kids'
bikes and gardening tools) and racks that can accommodate bins for all
the small items you just can't bear to throw away.
There's also the wisdom of holding Garage Sales -- i.e. a series
of them until you've disposed of all the stuff that you possibly/probably
haven't used for years. It also isn't a bad idea to indulge
in some bribery: let the kids keep the money they collect from selling
everything that they keep saying they can't bear to throw away.
Into the bargain, there's no good reason why you shouldn't build a storage
shed (or, if necessary, a second one) to accommodate whatever (really)
doesn't need to remain in the garage.
It will take some discipline and determination to do all this,
but one point that the Garage article makes is well worth realizing.
All of us need somewhere to toss the stuff we aren't using and the yawning
space of an empty garage is an open invitation that we simply must
train ouselves to ignore.
So, if you will, put it this way: a No Parking zone doesn't belong
in a garage; it's supposed to apply to the driveway!
Duncan Pollock, Real Estate Broker,
427 Gate Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake,
Ontario, Canada L0S 1J0
Tel: 905-468-3154 Fax: 905-468-3812
Cellular: 905-704-9037
email: duncanpollock@sympatico.ca
Note: E-mail
addressed changed as above on Nov 3 2007
website: http://www.duncanpollock.com
Note: Update re a Deed to the White House --
see my August
newsletter
A September 14th news release reports that GoldenPalace.com is now
the owner of the Quit Claim Deed. GoldenPalace.com has a reputation
for acquiring unique and extraordinary items through online auctions.
Their numerous buys on eBay have made headlines worldwide, and they have
received an enormous amount of exposure as a result.
PS. One
of my web pages provides a list of the other newsletters I've sent
out. If you choose to go to it, you can click on any title to bring
up its full text.
PPS. I've recently been invited and encouraged to create a second
website, one that deals with my approach to the industrial, commercial,
and investment real estate market. You can reach it, if you're so
inclined, at http://www.iciniagara.com.
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