Keeping your garage organized

The garage ranks as one the most disorganized rooms in the house, according to several highly rated professional organizers on Angie’s List.

It can become a dumping ground for toys, sports equipment, and tools.

But that garage clutter may be costing you more than just space – have you ever bought a duplicate item just because you couldn’t find it?

“The kids have a lot of toys, bikes and shoes and all kinds of stuff so it was very unorganized, difficult to get things. Had to climb certain areas to get certain things and made my life quite difficult,” homeowner Jeff Fredericksen said.

Professional organizers can help sort, purge, categorize and put items back in a way that makes the most sense to the homeowner.

Some organizers also sell and install storage products such as overhead storage bins, wall racks and cabinets.

“Here we have some slat wall which is another popular item in the garage these days. You can do it in small sections like this, or panel your whole walls, but there are lots of accessories including shelves. In this situation we used a slat wall and some shelves to solve the shoe issue which is always a big thing in garages. People ask ‘where can I kick off my shoes before I go in so they are not piled in front of the door?” professional organizer Tom Felming said.

Some homeowners complete the look of an organized garage with epoxy flooring.

The hardened, high–gloss polish resists scuffing and abrasions.

“If you don’t have time to get your garage organized yourself it might be worth investing in a professional organizer. You need to talk to the organizer to determine what they can bring to the table and make sure the outcome is going to be something you’re going to be able to live with,” Angie’s List founder, Angie Hicks said.

Before hiring someone, Angie says ask how you’ll be charged:  is it by the hour or by the project and are there additional charges for products?