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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.