House hunting. Would I regret a one-car garage? (Denver, Aurora: university, living)

[davidv]

One problem with houses that have single-car garages is that they were built in the 1950s and 1960s and are small. If you are driving a Tahoe, your car might not fit in the garage to begin with. You'll want to check before you buy.

[Therblig]

Originally Posted by davidv

One problem with houses that have single-car garages is that they were built in the 1950s and 1960s and are small. If you are driving a Tahoe, your car might not fit in the garage to begin with. You'll want to check before you buy.

And a vast number of 2-car garages won't hold two cars of later than the 1980s K-car generation. Certainly not a pair of SUVs. So it's back to one car and onsite storage. Assuming the latter doesn't take over.

I actually did have two cars in my "it's two car if you squint" garage for some time. But one was from 1966 and the other from 1968...

[DenverBrian]

The problem with many 1-car garages isn't necessarily the length...it's the height. A Tahoe may scrape the top of a 1-car garage built before 2000.

[otowi]

You might look at the property and see if covered parking is an option as a supplement to the one-car garage - (if codes allow). Most of the time, a cover is more than sufficient to keep ice off your windshield, snow off your car, etc.

[modest]

I vote two car garage. Best for household storage and longevity of your vehicle. The elements can be tough on the car out here. Sun damage to the paint and hail damage come to mind immediately.

[sammy87]

Is this even a question?

[Therblig]

Originally Posted by sammy87

Is this even a question?

As in, "What kind of moron would go for anything less than the maximum number of attached garage doors?"

Maybe not.

[Wheatridger]

I converted my one-car garage to living space, and ever regretted it. But I do have off-street parking, in the back, invisible from the street, in fact. That's a big consolation!

[daprara]

fuel energy costs are inflating 2-3X and likely not going back down.
not a good time to bump the old bungalow for a 2nd story.


i drive a fossil fuel burner from the K-car era. One ton curb weight. Only $25 for a fill up; lasting 1-2 weeks.
a cop stopped me for school zone speeding on Kalamath today and only gave me a warning
a long hair gen Z millennial on a bicycle said the car looked cool
i was stolen twice cops said the thieves like to re-live their teen years
quarter mega miles+ on the car.

this time next year everyone will have an EV

[Therblig]

Originally Posted by Wheatridger

I converted my one-car garage to living space, and ever regretted it. But I do have off-street parking, in the back, invisible from the street, in fact. That's a big consolation!

One of the oldest and most universal remodeling rules I know, from when I was a teen, is "don't convert a garage to living space" — not unless you're putting a separate garage in, or the like. Maybe the game has changed, but my understanding is that it's a hard no to most RE agents, to the point where I've seen houses reconverted to garage space to meet market expectations.

I'm sure there's exceptions, but this is up there with "location location location" for SFHs.