Garage door specialists Garolla commissioned a survey of 1,001 UK respondents (nationally representative) to discover what items the nation are storing in their garages, the estimated value of these belongings, and common home security measures.
The findings revealed that the most common items to store in garages are DIY tools (60.4%), gardening tools (58.1%) and cars (40.8%). Over a third (35.6%) admitted to hoarding junk in their garages, and some revealed that they keep valuables (3.2%) or important documents (2.9%) in their garages.
- Table details (available to copy and paste) available in Notes to Editors section
The findings revealed that the estimated value of items stored in UK garages is £9,326.12 per household (on average). Across the UK, this equates to an estimated £92B total value of items stored in Brits’ garages (£92,048,804,400*).
According to official figures, the UK economy fell into recession during the final three months of 2023 – with this in mind, homeowners should consider making the most of these potential garage ‘gold mines’ by selling any unneeded or unwanted items. Otherwise, homeowners should ensure that their belongings are being properly protected.
The survey revealed that many are relying on blinds/curtains (35.5%), alarms (34.3%), and double locking doors (33.7%) for home security, with these three being the most common measures that homeowners currently in place. Various cameras, timers, detectors, sensors, locks, and monitoring were also popular – however, some trusted less technical options, such as being part of a neighbourhood watch or the protection of a (guard) dog.
- Table details (available to copy and paste) available in Notes to Editors section
The research also highlights that an estimated 169,031** households have zero home security measures currently in place, emphasizing potential security risks across the country.
Looking at location splits (nearest city), on average, Liverpool homeowners had the ‘most valuable’ garages (based on estimated value of belongings stored in garages):
- Liverpool – estimated value of £13,690.18 per garage
- Leeds – estimated value of £12,347.40 per garage
- Bristol – estimated value of £12,135.71 per garage
- London – estimated value of £11,135.83 per garage
- Edinburgh – estimated value of £10,796.97 per garage
- Glasgow – estimated value of £10,410.61 per garage
- UK average – estimated average value of £9,326.12 per garage
- Nottingham – estimated value of £7,813.69 per garage
- Birmingham – estimated value of £7,756.41 per garage
- Southampton – estimated value of £7,752.00 per garage
- Manchester – estimated value of £7,734.96 per garage
- Cardiff – estimated value of £7,713.77 per garage
- Sheffield – estimated value of £6,463.46 per garage
- Newcastle– estimated value of £6,032.76 per garage
- Belfast – estimated value of £5,892.31 per garage
- Norwich – estimated value of £5,140.28 per garage
Looking at regional splits, Scottish homeowners had the ‘most valuable’ garages (based on estimated value of belongings stored in garages):
- Scotland – estimated value of £10,630.47 per garage
- Southeast England – estimated value of £10,439.47 per garage
- Wales – estimated value of £10,344.44 per garage
- UK average – estimated average value of £9,326.12 per garage
- Northern England – estimated value of £9,253.55 per garage
- Southwest England – estimated value of £9,219.70 per garage
- Central England – estimated value of £7,250.64per garage
- Northern Ireland – estimated value of £5,892.31 per garage
Alastair Mayne, chief operating officer at Garolla, commented: “While many homeowners focus on securing their front doors and windows, they often overlook the importance of garage door security. In addition to housing valuable assets (including cars, bicycles, tools, and other possessions), your garage door serves as an entry point to your home, making it a common target for burglars.
“Investing in garage door security offers a multitude of benefits for homeowners, including unauthorised access prevention, vehicle protection, and potential home insurance savings. A well-secured garage door acts as a barrier against burglars, safeguarding your home and valuable possessions from unauthorised entry, and is a crucial safeguard against theft and vandalism, offering peace of mind when it comes to the safety of your vehicles.
“However, not all garage doors are made equal… Unless properly reinforced, older garage doors with an ‘up and over’ mechanism can be forced open, making these garages more vulnerable against intruders and the contents susceptible to burglary. Garolla’s electric roller garage doors are made from double-skinned aluminium and insulated with high-density polyurethane for added strength, as well as secure guide rails, auto locks (which ensure the door cannot be lifted manually), and anti-clone remote control technology. Our SafeGuard Plus system also features ‘KeeLoq’ – a rolling code technology to prevent remote control fob cloning by criminals”.
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Garolla’s tips on how to further enhance your garage security and deter potential intruders include:
- Keep valuables out of sight: Organise your garage effectively, ensuring that valuable items are not left in plain sight and are stored away properly
- Secure from the outside: Make it a habit to close and lock your garage door after every use, even when you are at home
- Regular garage door maintenance: Regularly inspect your garage door for signs of wear and tear, such as loose screws or damaged tracks
- Upgrade your garage door: Invest in a high-quality garage door system
For more information, visit: https://garolla.co.uk/news/brits-store-up-to-10k-in-their-garage-is-yours-secure-enough
