How to Pare Down and Pack Up for a Garage Makeover
Many of my clients are rethinking the way they use their garages after spending more time at home over the last few years. During the height of the pandemic, garages were used as art studios, home gyms and classrooms. Now many people want to upgrade their space with new flooring and storage systems because they realize the value of this additional real estate.
Clients often feel overwhelmed by clutter in their garages and want to get organized. Whether you’re tackling a complete garage makeover or simply making a few adjustments, read on to learn how to pare down and pack your possessions in an organized fashion.
What to Do Before You Start
1. Schedule time on your calendar. In my experience, a garage cleanout is a time-consuming process, so I recommend reserving several days on your calendar. I suggest starting the process well before the installation of your new flooring or storage systems — especially if you have difficulty making decisions.
2. Collect boxes, packing supplies and large trash bags. Think about accumulating boxes from deliveries to use for packing and donating belongings. You might be able to find moving boxes for free on community sites or message boards. You might also pack possessions in storage containers you already own.
3. Assess trash and donation pickup options. I suggest contacting your local waste-management company to ascertain the services included in your monthly fee. Keep in mind that options vary by company.
Some waste-management companies pick up old paint, pesticides, motor oil and other toxic substances, as well as electronic waste. In some areas, hazardous waste must be dropped off at a specific location. Your service provider should be able to direct you.
Many charities pick up donations from your home if scheduled in advance. Some do not accept furniture or other large items, so be sure to ask.
It might be necessary to contact a junk-removal company for excess trash. Hauling prices vary greatly, so I recommend getting several quotes.
4. Find a location to store your belongings. If new flooring is being installed in your garage, it will be necessary to pack and get everything of the floor and store it elsewhere for a few days. Perhaps a shed or basement can be used to temporarily house belongings. If not, it might be possible to keep items in your backyard. Remember to check the weather forecast and cover items with a tarp if necessary. To prevent theft, it might be best to store things behind a fence and out of public view.
When sorting through your belongings, I recommend tackling one category at a time to keep from becoming overwhelmed. Try to make a decision on all items in one category before moving on to the next. Listed are several common categories stored in garages and tips for paring down.
1. Household items. Unused furniture, out-of-date home decor, abandoned arts and craft projects and inherited family heirlooms are items I commonly find in clients’ garages. I suggest letting go of things you’re saving for your adult children. From my experience, adult children generally do not want hand-me-downs from their parents or grandparents. Consider letting go of hobbies or projects you might do someday. Don’t waste valuable real estate on things you won’t be using in the near future.
Consider researching the value of an antique or heirloom that might be worth something. An easy option is to take photos and send them to a local consignment store or auction house. Often you’ll receive a response within 24 hours with a ballpark estimate. Don’t be disappointed if the estimate is much lower than you expected. Perhaps this will make it easier to donate the item.
If you have the motivation, you may want to sell items online. However, I recommend researching the price of similar items first to see if it’s worth your time. Unless you own something that’s in high demand, you might be let down by the sales price.
2. Gardening tools and supplies. Consider paring down extra flower pots and vases, especially if they’re chipped or cracked. If possible, consolidate fertilizer and potting soil and get rid of anything you no longer use. Review your garden tools and gloves and think about letting go of any that are duplicates, broken or no longer used.
3. Outdoor gear, including sports equipment, camping supplies, beach chairs and bikes. Take a serious look at your gear and consider whether you’ll ever use it again. It may have been fun to go camping when your kids were young, but do you really plan to go in the future?
The same goes for old bikes, beach chairs, golf clubs, tennis rackets, hockey gear and ski equipment. Try to remember the last time you used each item. If you golf twice a month, by all means keep your golf clubs. If the last time you used your clubs was a decade ago, it might be time to let them go.
4. Suitcases, shopping bags, computer bags and backpacks. Old suitcases, reusable shopping bags, computer bags and backpacks frequently clutter garages. If you have children who play sports, they might get a new backpack every season. Some people have a hard time discarding an almost-new backpack every year. The same can be said for promotional tote bags. Over the years, this free stuff can get out of control. If bags aren’t being used, it may be time to donate them.
Sometimes my clients purchase new luggage without donating or discarding their old bags. Luggage can take up a lot of space, so think about letting extras go. Also, an overabundance of reusable shopping bags might be cluttering your garage. Perhaps you can use a few of these to corral the items you’re donating.
5. Holiday decor. This probably isn’t the time to sort through tree ornaments or other small decor. I recommend focusing your energy on large outdoor holiday decor that can pose a significant storage problem.
In recent years, Halloween decor has been a big challenge for us as home organizers. The sheer quantity and size of decorations seem to get larger every year. Last year several of our clients purchased realistic-looking skeletons that were at least 12 feet tall. Although they looked festive in the front yard in October, I was concerned about the storage space they would require. If your holiday decor is starting to overwhelm your garage, perhaps it’s time to pare back.
Start by looking at bulky items and duplicates, especially if you haven’t used something in a few years. It may be nice to have a holiday wreath in every window and a Christmas tree in every room, but this requires a lot of storage space the rest of the year. With the extraneous items removed, you might have a little extra room for that giant Halloween skeleton.
After you’ve pared down your possessions, I recommend packing by category. If you already own storage containers that you plan to use in your redone garage, it might be easiest to use them for packing. If not, cardboard boxes are another option. Remember to label containers and boxes with their contents. Although not necessary, using a label maker for permanent storage containers keeps things looking tidy.
For most people, cleaning out the garage is a time-consuming and overwhelming job. Think about recruiting another household member to help. If no one is available, a home organizer can streamline the process. With real estate prices soaring in many areas, getting the most out of every square foot in our homes has become a top priority.