Anonymous wrote:I think no garage is better than a carport. I associate carports with low income housing, as all of the low income houses in my hometown have carports rather than garages. I understand there are expensive houses in the DC area with carports, I just wouldn't think of buying them.

We struggled with Falls Church because of this. So many 1960s carports. No clue why they didn't convert them in the past 50 years.

With a kid, it's been so helpful to have an attached garage. I can quickly unload the stuff (stroller, diaper bag, pump bag, groceries, etc...) then go back and get the baby out of the car, or vice versa (unload baby first and leave her in the family room in her carseat while i get the stuff out).

I think no garage is better than a carport. I associate carports with low income housing, as all of the low income houses in my hometown have carports rather than garages. I understand there are expensive houses in the DC area with carports, I just wouldn't think of buying them.

Anonymous wrote:We have a carport (no garage) and I really don't miss the garage at all. In fact, I think I prefer a carport because it doesn't get cluttered with storage stuff we could put in the shed or basement instead. Plus you get the benefit of not having to clear the car off, not getting wet in the rain, not having the car sitting out in the sun, etc. Best of both worlds for me!

Wait, you like a carport better than a garage because it forces you to not be a hoarder? lol. You could always just have a garage and not hoard in it too you know? But I get your point. Carport is better than nothing in my opinion. We just needed a place for DH's bikes since he's a racer and won't leave them outside because they're too nice.

Absolute house deal breaker for me. I'd rather have one bathroom than no garage. I will never be without a garage again.

-keeps my car warm in the winter, cool in the summer and dry
-protects my convertible's roof
-Keeps the shoe mess outside in the garage
-bike storage
-no more car break ins
-no more scraping ice or shoveling snow off my car and then fighting for shoveled out spots on the street. Apartment dwellers are assholes. They steal the spots you shoveled the second you leave, but often don't plow their own spot. Or they shovel snow off their car onto yours.

As others already said, a garage is simply a nice luxury. We finally got one with the latest house we bought and moved into (it was a must for me). The temperature is always moderate compared to the outside temperature which is nice.

Also, if you like nice cars (or even just like to take good care of your cars), there's no question there's less wear and tear on your car over 5-10yrs sitting in the garage vs outside. In many areas people consider a garage a must. If you goto Southern CA, pretty much all homes have garages, even though the weather is relatively nice compared to here. When we had some family visit years ago they were shocked that many houses didn't have garages, especially with the cold winters.

Anonymous wrote:We have a 3 car garage. Love not going out into the rain & excessive heat. Car is kept clean. Most of all, husband loves it as he has demanding hours that sometime require him leaving during the night to go to the hospital. No need to clean off car or wait to warm up! Whatever makes the family happy! And no, we will never have a home without a garage.

Wish we had a 3 car garage. With our two cars in there the trash can and recycling bin just barely fit. Would love to have the extra bay for bikes and a little more room for the trash cans. Perhaps our two car garage is just really small, not sure.

Most the popular neighborhoods in NW DC (where houses are currently selling in 48 hours with multiple bids) are comprised of houses entirely without garages or with non-functional garages (tiny and built in 1930 so they don't fit current cars).
I live in AU Park and no one i know parks a car in a garage.

As I get older, I want a garage more and more. Especially since we live in central DC. A place to store the car out of the elements, keep my tools, work on home improvement stuff, store bikes and the BBQ. It would be heavenly.

I prefer detached garage.

We never park in ours, but it's great for storage and as an extra playspace for messy kid projects.

We have a carport (no garage) and I really don't miss the garage at all. In fact, I think I prefer a carport because it doesn't get cluttered with storage stuff we could put in the shed or basement instead. Plus you get the benefit of not having to clear the car off, not getting wet in the rain, not having the car sitting out in the sun, etc. Best of both worlds for me!

BEtter for the car, right?

I have garage envy!

Like some PPs have said, I hate those houses that look like "and here we have a lovely spacious three car garage with the added bonus of a house attached to it!"

Anonymous wrote:It's trashy to have cars parked on the street

+ 1

Prominent garages are trashy too though. Detached and tucked around back or side loading all the way. Anything else = low class.

I park in mine. My car is warm, dry, I don't have to scrape the windows at 6am or go out in the rain. When my kids were small, I didn't have to take them out in bad weather to get them in their car seats. It's great and a non-negotiable for me, too.