First, I mean no disrespect to people who have them and have hobbies (i.e. woodworking) to fill up the stalls or who live in climates, for instance, where laundry rooms are in the garage and need the extra space. Or, for instance, if you live in an area without basements and use one stall for workout equipment. Or, if you are well on the path to FIRE and love boating, for instance. You've earned it. It's your thing. I'm down with that. But, I'm surprised at how -- at least in my neck of the woods -- a 3 car garage has become the norm for just about everyone. I live in the upper midwest.
We've always had a 2-car garage and with ample room on the sides and front and good racking systems, it's always been able to house golf clubs, bikes, and lawn/garden equipment. We are definitely "new house" people, and I'm struck with how most of the new construction in our area has 3-car garages. Around here it's almost like when you say "2-car garage" people look at you like you want to live with a car port in the upper midwest. I think the solution of happily living with a 2-stall garage is to get rid of stuff and/or to get a shed for the mower/gardening tools/etcetera.
I don't know how many people -- including my parents -- have admonished me: "Well, you really need a 3-car garage!" You know, for "resale..."
The thing is... I don't feel like we do. And we aren't going to relent -- even if we build new. Personally, I would rather house a great deal of my lawn and garden equipment in a nice well-constructed shed out back. Something fancy pants with cement board siding that matches the color and design of the house. Something like this little number from Costco:
http://www.costco.com/.product.11672487.html?I always feel like housing all of our lawn equipment in our garage invites extra dust, oil, and mess that I would just as soon leave in a shed out back for the 6-7 months per year that we don't even touch these items instead of dragging it into my house on my shoes. It seems like extra garage stalls are expensive storage spaces (drywall, insulation) for stuff that doesn't need it and that it also encourages people to get more stuff.
I know the drill about permits, covenants, etcetera. But I really feel like a well-constructed shed that matches the look/feel of the house is no more out of place than a piece of kids' play equipment or a trampoline.
We are definitely 2-car people and we have extra stuff. This isn't a diatribe about "clown cars" or anything. But I really feel like the 3+ garage as a norm has gotten kind of out of hand. Anyone else have luck with a 2-car garage and a fancy pants "shed" in the burbs????