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How to Get More Space in the Garage

Too much clutter in the garage? These tips will give you some storage ideas, designed to free up space.

garage storage

It doesn't seem to matter how big your garage is: you can always fill it up with stuff. Sure, you can hire some professional organizer to come help you clear a path to the car doors, but that costs money. How about I just give you some tips instead? You don't even need to pay me $100 an hour, or whatever it is de-clutter-ganizers are making these days. So, without further ado, here are five ways to clear up space in the garage:

1. Hang things from the ceiling.

Garages usually have plenty of headroom, so that leaves many cubic feet of space you can exploit. Is your family full of sports fanatics? You can buy ceiling-mounted racks designed specifically for outdoor recreational equipment, everything from snowboards and bicycles to canoes and kayaks. You can also get platforms that go up and down with a crank of a lever. These allow you to tuck hundreds of pounds of junk--er, valuable family heirlooms--up amongst the rafters.

2. Make use of wall space.

You've probably got at least one pegboard in the tool area of your garage, but there's no reason to limit yourself. You can attach your own homemade brackets, nails, and pegboards, or you can buy special panels designed to support hooks, baskets, and shelves.

3. Cabinets are for garages too.

Most garages have enough room on the sides or in the back to accommodate banks of cabinets, while still leaving enough space to get in and out of the car. Even if there's only enough room for 12" deep cabinets, that's still a lot of extra storage if you run them from floor to ceiling. Also, cabinets look nice--all your clutter gets hidden behind the doors, where you don't have to look at it every time you drive inside.

4. If you have too many vehicles, try a car lift.

You've got a good 10-12 feet of height in your garage, right? And the average car is less than five feet high, right? Well, there are systems out there that let you stack them. Granted, these are pricey, and raising and lowering the top car can be a hassle if the vehicle is driven every day, but if there's a car you don't drive that often but that takes up space, it might be something to look into. Car lifts can make a lot of sense in houses with one-car garages.

5. Think garage sale.

If you've tried your hardest to find storage space for everything, but you're still tripping over stuff, it may be time to clean the garage out. Chances are you have toys, boxes, tools, etc. that you bought many moons ago (and which your family probably hasn't used in almost as many moons) that you don't need to keep around. So, clean it out and throw it out, or better yet, have a garage sale. At least then you make some money and are rewarded for your efforts.

 

How to Hold a Successful Garage Sale

Holding a garage sale can be a profitable and fun way to make sure items are reused. It’s true that garage sales are a lot of hard work, but the returns are more than worth the effort. You should be pleased at how easy the planning of a garage sale can be.

garage sale, sale, garage, yard sale, money, home, successful

Holding a garage sale can be a profitable and fun way to make sure items are reused. It’s true that garage sales are a lot of hard work, but the returns are more than worth the effort. You should be pleased at how easy the planning of a garage sale can be.

Plan -
Don’t discard those old clothes and items just yet. In fact, don’t throw anything away! You will be surprised at what people will buy. Your trash truly is another person’s treasure. Check with family, friends, and neighbors to see if they would like to hold a joint sale. More sellers mean less work, and more items mean more buyers. Also, advertising will be lower with more people to share the cost.

Promote -
Most community newspapers have a weekly garage sale section to advertise in. Put up signs in your neighborhood a few days before the sale. Make sure the signs are large, readable, and if possible, waterproof. On the day of the sale, put a large sign and some balloons at the intersection closest to your house. Remember to take down all of your signs after the sale.

Be Organized -
If possible, plan to set up items in a covered area so that you can still hold the sale if the weather is bad. Have each family mark their items with a different color dot to prevent mix-ups. Make sure that every item is priced and set up in a secure place by at least the night before the sale. Price your items fairly, but not too low. Some people will want to bargain with you. Have plenty of change on hand, as you will be dealing with a lot of paper money.

You will be surprised how the day of the sale can take a toll on you. Try not to let your sale go past noon, and it helps to have someone there to take turns managing the sale, so that you can each take breaks.

 

How To Find A Reliable Auto Repair Shop

A car is the second largest investment most of us make after a house, so it only makes sense that we want to trust the person who is going to be repairing it. And while you might think finding a reliable auto repair shop and a good mechanic might be a difficult task, it really isn’t if you know what to search for. Let’s get you on the right track.

The best way to guarantee you find a good repair shop is to start looking for that quality shop before your car needs repairs. ...

auto repair

A car is the second largest investment most of us make after a house, so it only makes sense that we want to trust the person who is going to be repairing it. And while you might think finding a reliable auto repair shop and a good mechanic might be a difficult task, it really isn’t if you know what to search for. Let’s get you on the right track.

The best way to guarantee you find a good repair shop is to start looking for that quality shop before your car needs repairs. Once your car is broken you are forced to rush around trying to find a place to have it fixed, and you won’t have time to research the quality of the shop.

It’s much better to establish a relationship with a repair shop and the mechanic long before things break. In fact, regular maintenance will reduce the risk of your vehicle breaking down and it’s the perfect way to decide whether you like what a shop has to offer. Start small with a simple oil change and build from there.

Rely on word of mouth when you start your search. Listen to what others have to say about different repair shops. Ask friends, family, and co-workers who they would recommend. You can also check with the BBB to find out who has had complaints against them.

Never base your decision on just the price. A lower price doesn’t always mean a cheaper bill. Some shops have a flat rate charge for each repair type no matter how long it takes them. Others charge for every hour that it takes, which might work out cheaper but it could also work out to more if the mechanic runs into a snag. A higher rate doesn’t always mean better service, but a lower rate doesn’t always mean poor service. Do your research.

Once you think you’ve found the right shop snoop around a bit. Check to see that the shop appears well organized and neat.

There are also some questions worth asking:

1. Do they have up to date equipment
2. What type of diagnostic equipment do they have
3. Can they provide references from other customers
4. Do they specialize in a certain type of vehicle
5. Are their technicians certified
6. What brand of parts do they use
7. What is their policy relating to customer satisfaction
8. What is their warranty
9. What type of payments do they accept
10. What is their labor rate

It’s important to keep a record of the maintenance and repairs you’ve had done to your vehicle. Make sure you keep the repair records in a safe place.

Using these tips, finding a reliable auto repair shop won’t be that difficult.