Garage

Unless the home is in a strictly urban setting, a garage is a must in my opinion and the bigger the better. It should have power to it and be insulated where winters are cold.

In our area big garages are quite common. The Pacific Northwest cities and towns are outdoor activities oriented communities. I suppose having all four seasons distinctly necessitates having more yard maintenance tools and seasonal outdoor and recreational equipment.

A standard one car garage has room for one car and little else. If the car is not perfectly aligned inside you may have problems getting in or out of your car. You want to be able to that easily, not stumbling over a lawn rake you did not see with groceries in your arms. If you need room for miscellaneous storage, you will need a separate tool shed or a two car minimum size garage. You will be glad you did.

Attached garages are most common in houses built post World War Two, during the boom of suburban housing tracts. These tract homes were developed to provide economical housing for American servicemen. Growth of the suburbs continue and the houses are almost all Ranch or Split Level styles and the most common in our local real estate market.

Personally I do not like attached garages. I feel that it's taking up space that should be part of the living area. Unless the lot is unusually narrow, I see no reason for the garage to be attached to the house.

An alley access is a nice perk for a home, especially if it is paved. I like them for the convenience and privacy it affords. Garbage and trash collections take place in alleys and it makes the process easier. You have less distance to roll the trash bins out and will not have to move your car on pick up days. It offers more parking options and makes tinkering with your vehicles discreet and easier being next to your garage.

You should make sure the doors open and close easily either manually or with openers. Look for possible problems that would be obvious, like water stains on roof trusses, condition of the roof and so on. A home inspector will have a more in depth look at things but you don't need them to tell you the obvious.

My dad wanted a home with at least a two car garage and preferably one with a separate shop for his lapidary hobby. There were a surprising number of homes in his price range that had over sized two car plus sized garages or a shop. However it was difficult to get the right combination of a house, shop and the location together.

A nice 2 car garage setup on paved alley with gate to backyard.