my nieces home is built into a sloped lot..... garage/driveway is on front, on the main level. the walk out basement family room has a regular door to the back yard, and there is also like a one car garage where they store lawn mower and lawn furniture and there is a person sized door from the den into that storage room. I can ALWAYS smell the lawn mower when I am in that lower den. Grass.....and the fine scent of gasoline. I tend to agree with rolinggirl above, however,,,, in the winter, in ice and snow season, I can see advantages to having the stairs indoors.

That worries me , if you can smell the gas that means he garage doesn't have a fire rated door. Which means fumes from the car exhaust are getting into the house. The door should be replaced with one rated for fire that has an automatic close on it and a proper seal. Also any children in the home should be taught in case of fire to always exit to the outside. Most house fires start in the garage.

Don't light any matches, either!

I agree, rollinggirl, I'll mention it to them and also just casually check the fire rating on the side of the door myself. the main garage is upstairs, so car exhaust is not as issue from this little garage. its also possible that I'm smelling grass tracked in from door onto the carpet, and the smell of gas is my imagination.....

about 4 yrs ago they HAD a fire started by a lightening strike, all humans and pets were safely evacuated.

I'm so happy to hear everyone was okay.