Count the Cars Before You Fall in Love With the House
A caller to my radio show asked what buyers should do when they have several cars, but the house they like has a small driveway, no garage, or very limited parking.
My answer was simple. Try to find a house that already has the parking you need.
Buyers sometimes fall in love with a home and immediately begin imagining how they can change the property. Maybe they can widen the driveway, build a garage, create another parking pad, remove part of the lawn, or add a second entrance.
Perhaps they can. But perhaps they cannot.
Before counting on additional parking, buyers need to investigate local zoning requirements, permits, setbacks, drainage rules, curb-cut restrictions, neighborhood covenants, and the actual property line. There may be trees, utility lines, easements, sidewalks, or neighboring property that prevent the changes they are imagining.
Even when additional parking is allowed, the work may be more expensive than expected. Excavation, paving, retaining walls, drainage, permits, and landscaping can quickly turn a seemingly simple project into a major expense.
Street parking is not always a dependable solution either. Spaces may not be assigned, neighborhood parking may already be limited, and local restrictions can change. A buyer who owns three or four vehicles should not purchase a property with room for only one car while assuming the street will take care of the rest.
This does not mean buyers should reject every house that is not already perfect. Homes can be changed, and sometimes a well-planned improvement makes wonderful sense. But an important need should be treated as an important part of the home search.
If your household needs four bedrooms, you search for at least four bedrooms. If you need one-level living, pay attention to the steps; if you need safe, convenient parking for several cars, that belongs on the must-have list too.
Count the cars before you fall in love with the house. Finding the right property may be much easier than trying to force the wrong property to become something it was never designed to be.
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