A detached garage gives you space apart from your home to park your cars, exercise, work from home, pursue hobbies, store items or design an additional living space. When it comes time to put your house on the market, you can expect your detached garage to improve resale value and attract various buyers.
The cost to build a detached garage and the return-on-investment will vary based on factors such as location, property size, garage size, materials and appearance.
What Is a Detached Garage?
A detached garage is a free-standing garage separate from a house. These kinds of garages often serve unique or multiple purposes. While some homeowners may use detached garages as home gyms, others use theirs as workshops or home offices. Of course, a detached garage can also be used for parking cars.
In some cases, detached garages connect to a homeowner’s house via a bridge or breezeway. Breezeways are open walkways that allow homeowners to walk from their house to their garage, and bridges are fully-covered walkways that offer protection from rain and other inclement weather. Bridges often contain windows, and some of them can be cooled and heated.
Detached garages that connect to the main house via a bridge or breezeway are still considered detached garages because they don’t share walls with the house.
Average Cost to Build a Detached Garage
Typically, standalone garages cost approximately 10-15% more than attached garages, but the cost of adding a detached garage to a house varies due to size, materials and labor. The cost of constructing a detached garage is typically higher because contractors are building a completely separate structure.
Generally, you’ll pay about 10-15% more to build a detached garage than you would for an attached garage. The national average to build a detached garage is between $19,200 and $45,000, depending on the garage type, your preferred materials, where you live and whether a previous garage needs demolished.
The building cost also depends on the type of detached garage, which can be any of the following:
- One-car detached garage: A 12- to 16-foot-wide garage will typically cost about $11,500 to $31,000.
- Two-car detached garage: A 22- to 26-foot-wide garage averages about $16,000 to $46,000.
- Three-car detached garage: A 31- to 34-foot-wide garage ranges from $31,000 to $77,000.
- Four-car detached garage: Four-car garages typically consist of two tandem stalls or a single row with four stalls, costing $35,000 to $85,000 on average.
Does Adding a Garage Increase Home Value?
Adding a garage can increase a home’s value in many ways.
Even though it’s separate from your house, a detached garage adds to your home’s overall square footage. Many homebuyers include a garage on their list of must-haves when searching for a home, so having a garage makes your home more appealing to potential buyers who are looking for that additional space.
Further, detached garages can be a great addition to a home’s curb appeal. There are many directions you can go when it comes to your new space’s exterior design. If you want it to match your home’s design completely, it can. If you only want it to be inspired by your current aesthetic, you can make it look unique, too. Adding an element of curb appeal can attract even more buyers — everyone wants to live in an attractive, polished home.
These areas add value to your home because they can serve as versatile spaces. Many homebuyers see a detached garage as a space with endless possibilities. Maybe the next owner will convert it to an art studio for their children or an apartment for an older parent. Either way, detached garages can be used in several ways.
When it comes to attached versus detached garage resale value, detached garages add more value because they allow for unique home designs. A house with a detached garage can have a wraparound porch, extra windows and doors or an additional deck or patio. Generally, attached garages can only be used for parking cars or storage because they’re a part of the house.
How Much Value Does a Detached Garage Add to a House?
The amount of value a detached garage adds to a home depends on various factors because detached garages come in different sizes and materials.
Determining how much value a detached garage will add to your home will depend on a few variables. For example, location can affect how much value a garage adds to your home. If you live in a neighborhood where every home includes a garage, then adding a garage to your home will definitely add to its value because buyers expect to see it.
If you bought your house below market value, you can check the prices of other homes in your area that include a garage and compare the amounts. If the cost to build a garage is less than the difference between your home’s value and other homes’ values, adding a garage will be worth the building cost.
Before you decide to build a detached garage on your home’s property, make sure you avoid decreasing its potential value by considering the following points:
- Space: Build a garage that takes up minimal space so it’s not too large for your home’s lot. This way, your property will feel spacious rather than cramped.
- Maintenance: Build a durable, low-maintenance garage so future homeowners don’t have to worry about costly repairs in the future.
- Appearance: Plan your garage’s design and layout to match or complement your house and create an appealing aesthetic.
- Customizations: Additional features such as quality insulation can add temperature control and sound control to your detached garage, increasing the value it adds it your home.
Sell Your Home With HomeGo
Determine your home’s value and sell your home quickly and easily with HomeGo. We purchase homes in all conditions and specialize in purchasing as-is homes that need a little extra care.
Our agents will visit your property, develop a thorough valuation and make a cash offer on the spot. Avoid hidden fees and surprises with HomeGo and close in as little as seven days.
Contact HomeGo to learn more and start the sale process today.
