4 Things to Remember Before Building a Home Addition

Posted by Justin Havre on Thursday, October 17th, 2019 at 6:52am.

What Should Homeowners Know About Home Additions?Home additions can make life a lot easier, but they are often more complicated than they seem. This improvement project tends to cost more than the average, as a result of the extensive components involved. Riversong homeowners may find this a better choice compared to buying a larger home, especially if it allows them to customize the addition. Here are a few things people should know before they start the project.

1. Time and Work Needed

A home addition usually requires a significant amount of time. This might range from several weeks to months, depending on the season and the size of the addition. Homeowners may want to do the project themselves to save money. However, plans of this size may be more complicated and difficult than a homeowner can reasonably expect to do. People should keep in mind that they will probably need the following services:

  • interior design or architect plans
  • exterior structure, including walls, windows, doors, and roof
  • electric, insulation, heating, and cooling
  • lighting
  • flooring
  • interior features, like storage, cabinets, or appliances

They may be able to use one firm to handle most or all of these tasks, or they might have to hire individual contractors.

2. Average Costs vs. Return on Investment

From start to finish, a home addition can cost a lot more than other types of home improvements. This is because homeowners are adding onto the structure and need to manufacture all elements of the new space. As a general rule, people should plan to pay $1,000-$2,000 per square metre for a room addition.

Although this may be a fair cost for people who really need to add space, the return on investment is not always clear. In order to ensure that the addition is likely to improve resale value, homeowners should think about how they can increase use of their properties. Adding an extra bedroom or bathroom typically leads to the greatest return, particularly for homes that have fewer than the average.

3. Rules and Best Practices for Construction

While homeowners are starting to think about the kinds of designs that would work best for the home addition, they need to consider local rules and guidelines. In most cases, larger home improvements need approval in advance before people can start building. Professional contractors may need to prove that they have the right kind of licencing before homeowners sign a contract.

Homeowners should keep in mind the best options may require extra work, or call for a different kind of project. Big home upgrades tend to call major problems into the forefront. For example, someone who wants to add a luxury master bathroom to the home may need to upgrade or repair the plumbing at the same time. These can add costs, but may be a necessary feature to achieve the goals of the addition.

4. Design Ideas and Practical Choices

In many cases, home improvement projects stall because people had design ideas that simply did not make a practical choice. Sometimes, people have a vision that simply will not work with the existing structure, or without making a lot of other different choices. This is where getting a professional opinion may be an absolute necessity, rather than merely a benefit. Professionals often have the experience to know what works, and which choices are more likely to have problems. Starting off on the right foot may save a lot of stress throughout the project.

Sometimes, a home addition is a better choice for homeowners than selling and buying something else that meets their needs. In other cases, the option should be reconsidered. When homeowners do proper research in advance of starting the project, they can decide if they will get the best use and return on their investment, with the fewest problems.

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