Parking Space question-please advise

[Kexin Ma]

I am new to being a landlord, and I just purchased a 3/3 double, which has a one car garage with a driveway that could potentially park a few more cars, but then it will block the car in front of  it. There are some on-street parking around. Anyone could provide some insight on how to rent this out better? Making one unit accessible to the garage and the driveway and the other have to park on the street? BTW, I am in the north, parking on street could be a problem when there is snow. 

Also, if I remove the deck in the back, and remove the garage, I could probably make the backyard into 2 or 3 parking spots. But that seems like a big job without gaining more parking spaces overall. But if that's worth doing, it could be a project down the road.

Any advise will be appreciated. Thank you!

[Travis Lloyd]

So much of this is very micro-region specific - even neighborhood specific at times. You could offer the driveway / garage with one of the units for a higher rent. You also could rent it completely separate: "each unit is for rent for 1200/mo, the garage/driveway is available to rent for $200/mo" and see who wants it. You may even be able to rent it to a third person (non-tenant). Start with two DIFFERENT ads (craigslist or wherever you were planning on posting) for two apartments - one with ON STREET parking for X price, and one with OFF STREET + 1 car garage at X+Y price. See which one gets you more calls.

But let me offer you one thing you should NOT do: do not let both units park in the driveway. You will be kicking yourself for having to deal with 6am phone calls of "your ****** tenant blocked me in". You don't need that.