Throughout Long Beach and Los Angeles County, most garages go unused for a variety of reasons. Either your tenants carpool, they leave their car in the driveway out of convenience, or their car cannot squeeze into the garage. Regardless, chances are your Long Beach rental garage is sitting empty and collecting dust. However, you can repurpose the underutilized location with a host of enhancement that could interest your tenants and add value to your property.
Storage
Most commonly, people use their empty garages to store all the belongings they cannot fit within their house. For tenants, extra storage can be extremely helpful, especially if they only plan on staying in your rental for a relatively short period. For more information on the ways you can make your garage into the ideal storage space, check out the following blog post:
Garage Storage Enhancements for Your Long Beach Rental.
Home Gym
With the hectic schedules most Long Beach residents face, a home gym can save your tenants both money and time otherwise spent at their local fitness center. Furthermore, installing a home gym can fit your rental with a distinct amenity to draw potential tenants and increase your rental rates.
Though there are various exercise machines to choose from, it is best to stick with simple, frequently used equipment such as treadmills, ellipticals, dumbbells, and/or power racks. You can find a range of options at
Gym Source
or your local fitness store.
Playroom
When looking for a rental, a playroom may be the deciding factor that makes tenants with children choose your property. Additionally, like a home gym, you can charge higher rates for the added space.
Converting a garage to a playroom requires new flooring that is safe for children and also durable, such as
luxury vinyl tile. Then, simply put in some storage for toys and a few kid-sized tables and chairs for activities.
The benefit of redesigning the garage to a playroom rather than a home gym is that it is a cheaper but altogether equally lucrative investment. There are just as many budding families as there are gym rats searching for rentals in Long Beach.
Home Office
In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses either have yet to return to in-person work or plan to remain online indefinitely. As such, tenants may prefer a home office to operate in rather than their kitchen or living room.
If your rental does not have a separate home office, it may be smart to implement one in the garage. All you need is a desk, a chair, a printer, easily accessible electrical outlets, and perhaps some storage.
Depending on the size of the garage, you could even combine the home office with a home gym or playroom to make it a multipurpose space. This would make your rental more desirable and more valuable.
Accessory Dwelling Unit
An Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) is an addition to your rental property that consists of its own entrance, bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and laundry. Essentially, it is a separate structure commonly referred to as a Granny Flat or Casita.
Converting a garage into an ADU can be a long process that is certainly more expensive than the aforementioned alternatives. Nevertheless, an ADU garage conversion can effectively double your single-family rental and significantly increase the value of your property. With the recent rise in popularity of ADUs, the financial benefits should ultimately exceed the initial costs.
That being said,
developing an ADU
can be a complicated endeavor, and there are various state and country requirements to follow.
Finding the ideal purpose for your Long Beach rental garage can be difficult. To better understand the long-term value of these potential additions and determine which one is right for you, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247, or you can fill out our
Owner Application online.
