Things to Consider When Adding On to Your Home

There are plenty of things to consider when adding on to your home. Additions can be a good way to get more functionality out of your home. Your addition might be an extra bedroom for your expanding family, a home office to provide you with a space to work from home, or even a sunroom or hobby area. Your add-on might even be a way to add more space to existing rooms. Perhaps it’s removing or extending walls to let your current kitchen, bedroom, or other area flow seamlessly into your new addition. There are just so many possibilities.

Regardless of what you plan to use the room for, though, adding on to your house is a big undertaking and may be kind of a big investment as well. Even relatively small additions can be a big project, so it’s important that you know exactly what your plans will entail before you start work on expanding your home. To help with this, here are a few things to consider when making plans to add on to your home.

Planning the Expansion

Though you may have a good idea of where you want your addition to go, it’s important to spend some time actually planning it out. Consider details such as where the property line is located, whether there are any size or location restrictions based on state and local building codes, and whether there will be issues with the location of utilities or the slope of your property that could cause problems. Taking the time to rule out potential problems with your addition now will save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Another thing to keep in mind is how well your add-on will combine with your existing home. While you obviously have a good reason to want more square footage, if you just have an added room tacked awkwardly onto your home, it can significantly impact your home’s overall value. A good addition will blend seamlessly into the existing home. It will match the exterior and make it difficult to tell that an add-on was made down the road.

Cost and Investment

Depending on the sort of addition you want to make, your budget can fall within a pretty wide range. It’s important that you spend some time researching exactly what it will take to make your expansion plans a reality. The time of year, materials costs, and factors such as the size and types of materials you choose will all affect how much you will have to spend. Taking the time to do a bit of research and consult with a contractor about the options available to you can end up making a big difference in the final cost of your expansion.

This is important not just because of the immediate impact on your pocketbook but also the overall difference that it makes on your home’s value. All the money put into adding on to your home is an investment in your home. You want to get the biggest return on that investment that you can. Making smart choices and not letting your budget balloon out of control will go a long way toward maximizing your home’s value in comparison to the cost of your add-on. It’s more work now, but you’ll be thanking yourself if you find yourself wanting to sell your home at some point down the road.

It’s always a good idea to check with your real estate agent about your current market. If the idea is to improve the value of your home, it’s wise to know what your current market dictates as “valuable”.

Moving Forward With Your Addition

Choosing the right contractor is one way to affect the overall cost of adding on to your home and maximize the return on your investment. It is also one of the most important aspects. This person is someone you will work with over the course of weeks or possibly months, if there is an issue with materials. For this reason, we recommend researching and interviewing at least 3 contractors. This ensures you’ve done your due diligence in finding a suitable match for your needs. Always completely read through any contract with any contractor. Contracts can be a useful way for all parties to be protected, however, they can also have loopholes to be aware of.

There are so many things to consider when adding on to your home and often times the most important details slip through the cracks. This is why planning is key. First, sit down and get your own ideas on paper, then sit down with a contractor to do the same. Planning is key to a smooth experience!

**Adapted and revised from Homekeepr.com