A detached garage holds the extra advantage of creating more space and adding to the already built structure where you can live.
However, it has an increasing effect on the valuation of your property and, by default, affects the tax levied against you.
In this article, we would be taking a look at the effects of having a detached garage on your property tax and if it truly increases the tax you have to pay.
Here’s If A Detached Garage Increases Property Taxes:
A detached garage is an extra building space added to the already established structure you live. This positively affects the valuation of your home and as a result, increases the tax you get to pay on your property.
The property tax is calculated by the tax percentage that the government imposes.
Does A Detached Garage Increase Property Value?
A detached garage is a type of garage that stands alone, either just several feet or a few yards away from your house. This is usually a structure that has its own space and is used to store your vehicles, tools, and other things.
Can you have a detached garage?
Of course, you can have a detached garage in your house. As long as it is on your property and you’re not encroaching into another person’s home. There are different advantages and disadvantages of owning a detached garage, we will see that later on.
You can make a detached garage from different materials. It may be built with bricks, wood, concrete, etc. Most times, a detached garage will have its own foundation, apart from the original foundation of the house.
However, you should know that a detached garage can become attached if you want to.
A detached garage adds to the overall beauty of your house, especially if it is well built. It can increase the amount at which your house will be priced, thereby positively affecting the market value of your property.
Your garage can get a great deal more value from your detached garage than the amount you spent to build it.
The national average states that you can recover almost 65% of the cost of your detached garage during resale. If you built your garage for $100, you’d most likely make $165 when selling.
That’s a lot of profit, don’t you think?
Most people now prefer a detached garage because it gives them a more specific space to carry out their automobile care and repairs.
How Much Can Detached Garage Increase Property Taxes?
Building a detached garage can significantly affect the amount of tax you’ll pay as a tax owner. The amount of tax you’ll pay will depend on the value the garage adds to the property.
If we use the example stated above, your detached garage added a value of $65 to the total worth of your property; the amount of the tax will now vary based on the property tax percentage of your location.
In California, where the tax percentage is 0.76%, you just need to multiply the added value by the property tax percentage; we will have:
Tax on detached garage (0.76% x $65) = $0.494
The tax would be $0.494. This is just an example of how you would calculate the tax you have to pay to the government for owning a detached garage
Detached garages can be a funny business due to the hidden cost you might incur from taxes and other expenses.
Is A Detached Garage Considered Part Of The House?
A detached garage is built separately from the house on a different foundation. It holds no direct access to the home but can still be found within the homeowner’s compound.
Are you bothered about either referring to your detached garage as a part of your home or not a part? It is simple logic.
For a garage to be called a part of a house, it should share a common structure with the home building. The detached garage is a separate building and does not share any common wall or structure with the house. However, your detached garage can still be regarded as a part of your compound.
Since your house and your garage are still on the same land area, you can refer to it as a part of your compound but not a part of your house.
In cases where the detached garage is converted into an art shed or a small living area, it fits into the description of a house. As long as it is a separate entity, you can not call it a part of your house.
A detached garage differs from an attached garage in that you cannot see a wall or window frame joining the detached garage to your home, while an attached garage is closely knitted with the home building.
Sometimes, an attached garage is built to hold the primary entrance into the house and is constructed at the front of the house. The attached garage is an integral part of the house for this style.
The detached garage is usually situated in the backyard. They are sometimes built as an afterthought or as a solution to a need for space. This does not, in any way, dispute the aesthetic view that a detached garage adds to the house.
The expanse of land left behind the main building is usually the land area to be considered for how big a detached garage can be. A detached garage can get as big as a thousand square feet, depending on how much space you have behind your house.
A big garage means more space for anything you might want to do.
Is A Garage Included In Square Footage For Tax Purposes?
In calculating the total square footage of your home, it is necessary that you include that of your garage. Even if your garage is detached, it is still needed to calculate your tax.
Detached garages are helpful as additional spaces and create a separate space to work if you need some quiet. You enjoy the luxury of a detached garage when you get caught outside in the rain and can’t reach your house; it becomes a safe haven.
As much as a detached garage is beneficial, it might not be easy to manage. As it increases the valuation of your house, it also increases the tax you have to pay to the government.
Increased space means increased responsibility for cleaning. Getting to keep your home clean and still maintain your garage can be quite a hassle.
Unlike having an attached garage, you can’t monitor the activities of your kids when they are in the garage.
Summary
A detached garage is an additional structure that does not hold any direct access to your home.
It increases the property tax you get to pay by a certain percentage depending on the codes of your state.
A detached garage provides extra space for your use and also increases the valuation of your property.
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