*Thank you to Guardian Storage for sponsoring today’s post.
As you get older you learn to make sacrifices. Usually these sacrifices are made for obvious reasons such as for the well-being of your children, the sake of your family or staying out of debt. Our reasons for waiting THIRTEEN YEARS (yes, I said 13) to build a garage behind our house are all of those combined.
You may have noticed throughout the 8 years I’ve been blogging I’ve shared several major renovations with you all, including the addition we built onto our house back in 2010. To recap my husband and I bought a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom house in 2004. We didn’t set out looking for such a small house but due to finances and the fact that NO ONE takes care of their home before they sell it we chose our lifelong home (it was never intended as a starter home) based on the fact that it was built well (in the 1920’s) and it was extremely clean. This home didn’t even have a SHOWER in the one bathroom. Just a tub. I wish I’d have been a blogger back then because that, my friends, was a project.
Besides the house being solid and clean it was all on one level with such a huge backyard that we knew we’d be able to add-on in the future. In 2010 we began our addition to add on a bigger kitchen, master bedroom and master bathroom with a full basement underneath. Because my husband does a lot of work himself, his family does excavating and our contractor is a family friend we saved a lot of money and were able to do all of that.
The beginning stages of a garage build. Note the old one off to the left. =O
Why didn’t we just put a garage in at that time? Honestly, in hindsight, we probably should have just sucked it up and done it. But it wouldn’t have been my husbands dream garage. Plus we wanted new cabinets in the kitchen rather than putting up the old stuff from the 60’s as well as the other odds and ends that add up very quickly. He sacrificed his garage for the finished look of our addition.
Between 2010 and the end of 2016 random other things factored into us not beginning the build. The biggest part of that being kids are expensive and we’re not the people that are going to go into major debt, particularly my husband. In early 2017 we were in the right space to get the loan and begin the garage build (which didn’t actually start until August 2017 lol).
The first step in a major garage build is figuring out where to put all of the odds and ends from your previous shed and tiny one car garage (which, TBH, wasn’t even fitting of a car… it was literally tilting so it was basically just like a second shed). Oh, put them in the basement and attic, you say? No can do, because stuff that should be in a larger garage (like the parts to a ’72 Nova and a ton of tools) are in pieces in those two places PLUS all the kids stuff PLUS all the other stuff that families usually store in their attics and basements. We were out of room.
The only solution was securing a storage facility. This is something we’ve never done before. Before this we just made it work. Luckily a brand new Guardian Storage facility opened up locally in Pittsburgh, PA so they had room to get us right in.
Before signing on the dotted line with Guardian Storage I wanted to make sure it was the type of place I could put my things and feel safe. I don’t want to drop off anything if I’m going to have to worry about it, know what I mean? The minute I walked through the front doors my mind was completely at ease. There is a state-of-the-art 24hr digital security system with cameras in several areas as well as individual key codes for accessing the facility. You provide your own lock on the actual unit so there is never a worry of anyone getting ahold of a code and breaking in.
Guardian Storage in Pittsburgh, PA
The entire place was spotless and ran efficiently. The on-site Certified Storage Consultants were friendly and had the right answers for every single question I asked. One of my favorite perks is the FREE moving truck available to haul your items to-and-from. Never in a million years would I expect them to offer that for free, but they DO. It’s a very “client-catered” atmosphere and IMO more businesses should be like that. In addition to the truck they also have large loading docks, moving carts, free Wi-Fi AND they’ll even accept packages for you. Make me dinner and you’re literally the total package.
Guardian Storage Unit – Pittsburgh, PA
For our particular unit we were told you could fit an entire house of furniture in there. I was skeptical but once we put in TWO sheds worth of items and I saw that it barely took up the back wall area I was sold.
Being able to use a unit from Guardian Storage helped us stay organized during a really crazy time. Having so many random items out of the way really streamlined things and enabled us to focus on the build and what needed done there versus continually having to move things out of our way and relocate items as necessary. It was a huge weight off of our very stressed shoulders!
Guardian Storage in Pittsburgh, PA
For now, that’s the latest! Once the garage is done I’ll definitely update you on how everything went. We’re hoping it’s completed by the end of October. Right now they just finished up the block and are ordering the wood to start getting the walls going. Fingers crossed it moves more quickly from here on out. One thing no one ever tells you about construction is how long it all takes when you want quality! Stay tuned!
Wow!
It´s very nice that you have a beautiful family. And that you do this sort of activities together.
Thanks for sharing the process of the Garage building.
I just bought a minivan and it barely fits in our garage because of all the stuff. I was wondering how to make things work better – and a storage unit may be the solution! Thanks for the idea!
Now THIS is a place I’d feel comfortable leaving my belongings in. So clean and bright!
First thing I thought when I saw the facility – “OMG It’s so CLEAN!”
I cannot wait to see the final garage, and I’ll have to see if a Guardian Storage is local to us.
RIGHT?! I was like HOW is this so nice?! LOL It’s so modern looking too!
Gorgeous family! That’s so cool on the free truck! Congrats on the new garage. We just cleaned ours out from our move two years ago and when I walk in it’s like I can hear the angels sing.
Isn’t it crazy how organization and purging can just make you so happy?!
Free moving truck?! Now thats amazing!!
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I can’t wait to have our dream garage. I would have two, one an actual garage for cars and then a shop for all the other stuff. lol
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That’s amazing that they offer free use of moving trucks! NO ONE ever does that.
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We have SO many projects we need to do for our house. I want to add a bathroom and my husband wants to redo the garage and we want a storage shed and …. the list never ends.
and when you knock off one thing you add on three more lol adulting is hard.
We have no storage in our current home, and pay for a storage unit every month to store things. But our unit is exposed to the outdoors & sometimes we get furry “friends” in our unit. Love that Guardian’s storage units are so clean & indoors! Definitely going to see if they are in our area. 🙂
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OMG I’d cry. I don’t want the furry woodland animals anywhere near me lol
I could have used this storage unit when we were preparing to move. I love that they provided a truck to help, that’s first class.
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They were really top notch. I didn’t expect it to be as seamless as it was!
I’ll keep this in mind if/when we finally do renovations on our home. Believe me, I have a list of things I want to do. It’s just that pain in the butt time/money thing that keeps getting in the way! Good luck on building your garage!
You have such a good eye for decor I bet you’d be awesome for reno too!
Good luck on the project, I hope that it all goes smoothly. I’d love to see pictures when it’s done.
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Thank you! I’m definitely posting a follow up!
That is so cool that you are getting your garage. We need one desperately. That storage place sounds great.
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My husband always tells me, it’s not a race but a journey. We have so many projects in mind too but we are taking it one step at a time. you have a beautiful family!
Thank you! Your husband is right… but patience is also a virtue and I don’t have it lmao
Wow I wish I had the space to build one. Ray is such a pack rat!
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Congratulations on building your garage! Our house was also built in the 1920s, and while we have garage, it is only really usable for storage.
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Thank you! Yeah, garages were definitely smaller then… I get why… but with all the crap my husband has he’ll be tight even in a 4 car garage lol
My husband and I can’t live without a storage unit. We have too much stuff for sure. We actually need to clean ours out soon and get rid of the items we know we’ll never use again. This storage facility looks really nice and clean.
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It was not what I expected at all. I was really blown away with how nice it was. The entire facility and the people working there were all so accommodating to the customers!
Girl. I 100% understand your 13 years. We are also on the decades long remodeling/building plan and most of that is due to not having a place to put our stuff while we work on a room or project.
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YES! Then I think are we EVER going to be done and when we are done are we even going to care or be young enough to actually enjoy it?! Ugh. I need to start playing the lottery and, you know, win. LOL
A fantastic idea – the storage! I remember all the juggling of stuff from one room to another during our kitchen reno.
The nightmare kitchen reno – husband ( a contractor at the time) said 2 weeks (it didn’t start out to be a gut job but new ideas kept springing up,,,if we’re doing this might as well do that; planning on the fly when you know you can and it won’t cost you more labor and it seemed so easy with just redo the blueprints, get permits, materials etc). Halfway through, he needed a break (no cooktop/stove, no running water installed yet and fortunately no kids to feed, but I ate a lot of fast food) BUT 3 months later I threatened to call another contractor and it was finished by Christmas Eve for a total 7 months living in a construction zone. I said never again (well, I should never say never, that guarantees it will happen). We’re still married 36 years later! The family joke is how long will this take? Two weeks!
LMAO! Oh man, our husbands would get along fabulously! Mine got a bug up his you know what the day after Christmas one year to RIP OUT A WALL between the living room and dining room. I was like you mean RIGHT NOW?! These ones that can do everything themselves are a blessing and a curse! bahaha
Fabulous photo of your family!
Thank you!