Planning Your Garage Build in Houston

Having a garage is one of the most convenient aspects of being a homeowner. Garages provide ample storage space, offer great protection from the Houston sun, and serve as a great work space.

If you don’t already have a garage, there is no reason why you wouldn’t want to build one to add value to your Houston property. But before you do, there are a few things that you need to know.

One of the biggest and most costly mistakes that you can make when building your new garage is failing to obtain all of the necessary building permits from the Houston planning board. Don’t worry though, getting the necessary building, plumbing, electrical outlets is fairly simple.

All you need to do is have your garage building contractor draw up plans that are in compliance with all of the applicable building codes.

Keep in mind that some of the building codes in Houston are fairly unique. For example, trees within the city limits are protected, so if you need to remove any trees in order to build your new garage, you may not receive approval and permitting.  However, if you only build a small storage shed smaller than 200 square feet, you won’t need any permitting at all.

Finally, you will also need to obtain approval from your neighborhood’s homeowner’s association before you build your new garage.

The majority of HOA’s have very specific rules and regulations about building any new structures like a garage which are usually heavily enforced. Failing to comply with these rules could result in very expensive fines or could even be cause for you to leave your property.

Does Adding Garage Add To Your Houston Home Value?

In general, the state of Texas and the city of Houston in particular have rapidly earned a reputation where folks work hard and play hard. No one in this remarkably diverse city is going to give anyone anything for free but if you are willing to put in a little work, you will find yourself amply rewarded by the friendship and the connections.

Nowhere is this fact more evident than when you buy some real estate in the “Bayou City.” Texas is indeed “big” and, as such, land values are relatively modest as compared to those in other cities.

But that fact does not mean that the folks in Houston do not take pride in their property.

Here are just a few of the ways to improve:

Adding entertainment space – The city of Houston revolves around football, BBQ cook-offs and crawfish boils. It really pays for a homeowner who wants to entertain to cater to these needs if they want to see more people in their backyard on a regular basis.

An extension off of the garage will allow the host and his family to sit in the shade while still enjoying all the sights, sounds and smells of a great backyard get together.

Adding storage space – From the beaches of Galveston to the freshwater shores of Lake Conroe, the residents of Houston love the water. For better or worse, this means the acquisition of any number of sports-related paraphernalia such as surf boards, kayaks, ski boats and other assorted outdoor gear.

Keeping them in a safe and convenient place makes using them far more fun but also keeps any of the inevitable sand and dirt that accumulates on them out of the main house.

Adding hobby space – The residents of Houston have a number of hobbies from quilt and boot making through traditional and fantasy war gaming to sculpture and painting. All of these activities require more than a small amount of space.

To indulge their passions, they often add a dedicated space located just off the garage. Not only are they left to their own devices while engaged in a favorite past time but they are also out of the way of the rest of the family.