February 2011
Homeowners have many important questions about their Garage Organization Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Garage Organization investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?
Costs, materials and best practices for the example Garage Organization project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.
Use the following information to understand your options, make good decisions and get quality work at a fair price.
The approximate costs and value of a typical Garage Organization project are summarized below. Use higher estimates for larger metropolitan areas and the lower estimates where home prices are below the national average. Adjust costs for substitutions or refinements in the last section. For size differences of up to 25%, scale total costs in direct proportion to the size of your project. Use the adjusted costs as a basis for setting a material budget and for comparing contractor bids (if you choose to have a professional perform the work).
| Project description | Organize garage space for improved storage, work access and convenience. Add storage elements, electric circuits and lighting. Install peg wallboard for tool storage. Use basic grade of materials and installation quality. |
| Project size | 380 square feet |
| Material and labor cost | $2,025 - $2,363 |
| Material cost | $1,260 - $1,470 |
| Do-it-yourself assessment | The typical Garage Organization project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Garage Organization requires attention to detail and careful planning. |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Garage Organization project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost. |
| Long term Return on Investment - ROI | Returns will be impacted by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Garage Organization project can return as much as 67% - 78% of its initial cost |
| Green rating | Garage Organization projects can incorporate renewable or sustainable resources and environmentally friendly materials. |
Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Garage Organization project plan.
The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Garage Organization. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Garage Organization project. Click any Task name for a complete written specifications, FAQs and quality checklist for the task - this essential information will help you control Garage Organization project cost and quality.
| Task | Service Provider | Duration | Do-it-yourself difficulty | Target cost |
| Remove Construction Debris | Garbage and Rubbish Hauler | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $15.63 - $26.09 |
| Install Appliance Circuit | Electrician | 1 to 2 d | Level 4 - Pros Only | $338 - $577 per circuit |
| Install Ceiling Lighting | Electrician | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $93 - $168 |
| Install Shelving | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $21.50 - $36.63 per linear foot |
| Build Cabinets | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 4 - Pros Only | $368 - $614 |
| Mount Cabinet | Finish Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | Level 3 - Complex, Difficult | $70 - $117 |
| Install Wall Paneling | Finish Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $3.25 - $5.70 per square foot |
| Install Cabinet Handles | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 2 - Challenging | $13.50 - $22.77 per cabinet |
| Seal Windows | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $33 - $57 |
| Seal Door | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | Level 1 - Basic | $43 - $75 |