The Curb Appeal of a Side-Entry Garage

Garage placement is a crucial yet often overlooked consideration when designing a home. Side-entry garages are increasingly popular for their aesthetic appeal and functionality. Explore the features, benefits, and possible drawbacks of a side-entry garage to help you decide if you want this feature in your custom home.

Features of a Side-Entry Garage

As the name suggests, a side-entry garage is located on the side of the house rather than facing the street. This placement requires more space on the lot, making it an excellent choice for larger properties or corner lots. The garage door is less visible from the street, allowing the home’s main facade to stand out more prominently.

Side-Entry Garage Benefits

• Enhanced curb appeal: Garage doors are functional, but they’re not the most attractive aspect of your home’s exterior. Hiding the garage door from the street provides a major aesthetic improvement. This way, the front of your home appears more elegant and less dominated by large doors, increasing curb appeal and making your home more attractive to neighbors and potential buyers.
• Additional driveway space: Side-entry garages often have sweeping driveways, depending on their orientation to the street. This allows for more guest parking space without blocking the garage entrance. If the driveway is flat enough, it may also accommodate a basketball hoop or similar recreational activity.
• Improved safety: With a side-entry garage, cars can often enter and exit the driveway without reversing directly into the street, an excellent safety feature for homes in busy neighborhoods.
• Increased property value: Homes with well-designed garages that complement the exterior architecture are often more appealing to buyers, so expect a side-entry garage to increase your property value.

Drawbacks of a Side-Entry Garage

• Higher construction costs: Building a side-entry garage is often more expensive than a traditional front-facing garage due to the need for a longer driveway and additional landscaping to integrate the garage into the property.
• Parking challenges: A side-entry garage could make maneuvering larger vehicles like SUVs or trucks more difficult. Additional planning during the design phase might be necessary to ensure adequate space to park and turn comfortably.
• Space requirements: Side-entry garages typically require more land, making them less suitable for smaller lots. If your property is limited in size, a front-facing garage might be more practical.
• Higher snow removal needs: A larger driveway is convenient at times, but it also requires more effort to clear a path when it snows.

Design Your Dream Home with Landmark Fine Homes

A side garage design could be the right choice if you’re looking to enhance curb appeal, boost home value, and enjoy other side-entry garage benefits. Still, it’s important to consider the size and shape of your lot before finalizing your decision. Landmark Fine Homes can help you choose the right garage placement, along with hundreds of other choices that come with a custom build. If you’re ready to start planning your dream home in Oklahoma City, please contact us at 405.400.8616.