5 Signs You Need a Home Garage Car Lift

Is a home garage car lift right for you?

There are a few telltale signs that you’d benefit from having a home garage car lift. Virtually all of these signs will be things that cause you or your family some degree of headaches and stress all too frequently. A home garage car lift just might be the answer to your home parking and car storage problems!

Do any of the following five issues rear their ugly head on a regular basis?

1. You lack enough garage parking space

The most obvious sign you’re a perfect candidate for a home garage car lift are persistent issues with parking your vehicles.

Of 1,500 North American respondents to a Garage Living poll conducted in 2017, 20% said they were unable to park in their garage.

Garage clutter is one of the biggest factors that prevents you from using your garage for parking. Garage storage systems like slatwall panels or cabinets will definitely help when it comes to garage organization.

But even with an organized garage, parking can still be an issue for many homeowners. This could be due to having a small garage space or perhaps you have a lot of drivers in your family. Then again, maybe you’re a car lover who’s simply run out of indoor parking space for your growing car collection.

A home garage car lift can solve your home parking problems. It effectively doubles your available garage parking space by allowing you to safely park a vehicle above another vehicle. Utilizing your garage’s vertical space with a car lift can eliminate the arguments between family members over who gets indoor parking privileges.

A home garage car lift will instantly double your parking space.

2. A garage expansion isn’t a feasible option

Expanding your garage might seem like the most logical way to resolve your lack of home garage parking space. Weigh the pros and cons between this option and getting a home garage car lift, however, and the wiser choice is quite clear.

Car lifts for residential garages are a much more cost-effective option than undergoing a major garage expansion. The latter will carry a hefty price tag in comparison to investing in one (or even two) car lifts.

Also consider the other headaches that will accompany a major garage expansion:

• the mess that will be made

• the length of time you’ll be unable to park in your garage

• you won’t be able to use your garage for hobbies or other activities for awhile

• you’ll need to secure building permits

Installing a car lift in your garage, on the other hand, involves much less hassle and inconvenience. In most cases, the process can be completed in about half a day.

3. You want to protect your investments

Protecting the significant investment you’ve made in your vehicles only makes sense. And with higher-end vehicles, it makes that much more sense to find ways to park them inside your garage.

As mentioned, there’s simply no good reason to have items with little monetary value taking up your valuable garage parking space when it comes at the expense of indoor vehicle storage.

Parking in your garage with car lift storage keeps your vehicles far more secure than parking in your driveway. They’re also shielded from the elements, which will prolong the life of their bodies and engines.

And if you live in areas that get snow, consider the convenience of not having to deal with scraping snow and ice off your car or truck many times over the course of a winter.

4. You prefer servicing your own vehicles

If you have experience when it comes to auto maintenance, you know that it can be a challenge working on the underside of a vehicle. There’s limited space to work, poor visibility, and having to use a rolling mechanic’s creeper isn’t very comfortable. Using jacks can also pose a safety hazard.

For those who prefer doing their own car maintenance, a home garage car lift is extremely practical. There are three different types of car lifts available to make home car maintenance a lot easier.

Scissor car lifts are the cheapest option and allow you to access most areas that can be serviced on a car or truck. The big drawbacks of scissor lifts are you can’t park underneath them and many models have lower lifting capacities and lifting heights.

2 post car lifts are another option for the home garage mechanic. Hoisted vehicles are supported by arms attached to the two posts. This makes it easy to access a vehicle’s underside, change tires, and do brake work. Most home garage 2 post car lifts don’t leave space for parking another vehicle underneath, however.

4 post car lifts offer the best multi-purpose car lift functionality. Aside from changing tires (because your vehicle is parked on ramps), this type of car lift is well-suited for most home car repairs. And best of all, you can park another vehicle safely underneath a hoisted vehicle, which is a real space saver.

Getting to the underside of vehicles for performing your own maintenance is much easier with a car lift.

5. You want another long-term home vehicle storage option

In colder climates, many homeowners have sports cars, classic cars, or motorcycles that can’t be driven for about half the year. Even though you love your prized ride, it can be frustrating having precious garage parking space taken up by immobile vehicles for much of the year.

Off-site vehicle storage will cost several hundred of dollars per vehicle each year. A 4 post car lift that’s used to store your seasonal vehicles will pay for itself after just a few years.

Having your stored vehicles close at hand is also a lot more convenient if you need to occasionally run them during the winter for maintenance purposes.

Seasonal vehicles parked in the garage during the winter also provides a little more peace of mind that your cherished possession is safer than it would be in a storage unit.

Get professional installation of a home garage car lift

If any one of these five signs resonates with you, Garage Living can make your life easier with a professionally installed home garage car lift. Our 4 post car lifts are ALI Certified for safe and reliable operation and very easy to use.

Schedule a free consultation with one of our design consultants to start making your garage more functional with a convenient car lift.