Do you prefer a garage or family room?

we have a built in finished garage, to turn it into a family room we would need to put in a wall of windows where door is currently with a brick planting box under to match the rest of the house facade(we found the right ones at a masonry place) and put flooring in, a ceiling fan remove door and track and touch up ceiling add trim to make it look pretty and put in a french door to what will be a rose garden with trellis fencing, we will not be putting in the new garage for at least 2 years though we will qualify for the home equity line next year, we would eventually open up the basement stairwell between it and the living room, once the basement is finished(this winter and spring) the vents will be easy to run for heat and a/c and the furnace is big enough to add that space, what do you think? should we wait to do all this till we have the new garage in? Our car is older anyways and doesnt need protection and we wont buy the new one till a year or so after garage is built?

Do you prefer a garage or family room?
I would definitely go for the finishing the family room. THe car is older, you said, so weather isn`t going to hurt it. Several things to consider, though. Do you or you husband do your own auto. maintenance? Do you use the garage for tool storage/ storage/ work area.?You will be losing this. Do you live in a cold area? Starting the car outside in the winter is also a factor, etc. Do you live in a good area/neighborhood? Will you be safe starting the car in the dark by yourself? If these things don`t present a problem, then go for it . Living space is always utilized more effectively than garage space.
Reply:I recommend you check with a real estate agent or an appraiser to see how losing the garage will effect your resale value.
Reply:You'll probably just fill up the garage with stuff and never park the car in it anyway... Oh, wait, that's me!





Don't worry about finishing the garage first, make your home comfy - the car won't care!
Reply:If you are finishing the basement, completely do that first before you begin the family room. I am talking down to the last light switch cover. I am a avid home remodeler and we have completely redone 2 houses in the last ten years. The biggest setback you can have is starting too many projects and having a 1/2 done disaster. It never gets that classy, this is perfect look.

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