Home Additions
Updated: Mar 2
A Beginner’s Guide to the Best Home Additions
At first mention, a home addition may sound like an expensive and intimidating renovation project, especially if you’ve never embarked upon this journey before. However, we’re here to tell you it doesn’t have to be so scary!
In fact, there are many great reasons to invest in a home addition and many different routes you can take to do so. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know, from choosing a contractor and a project to budget expectations.
Why Should I Invest in a Home Addition?
Whether you’re looking to sell your home or continue enjoying it with your family for years to come, a home addition project is a great investment to make.
If you’re looking to sell, a home addition can significantly increase your property value. Keep in mind, however, that the amount you invest in this addition should be more than, or at least equal to, the amount of return on your investment. In other words, you should profit off the renovation when you sell your home to a new owner.
Additionally, if you’re looking to live in your home for generations to come, then it is all the more reason for you to invest your time and money into projects that make the space feel more like you. This could mean simply adding a new bathroom or kitchen or going so far as to add an attic space you’ve been coveting for years.
How do I Choose a Home Addition?
The options for home additions are nearly endless – if you can dream it, then you can do it!
However, we’ve listed a few of the most popular and profitable home additions to give you some ideas:
Bathroom Addition – A bathroom addition is by far one of the most popular home addition projects. Sharing a bathroom with your kids is never a fun situation and making siblings share with each other can be more of a headache than it’s worth. Adding an additional bathroom to your home can significantly increase the property value and is often a make it or break it point for potential home buyers. You can save money by converting an already existing space, like a closet, into a new bathroom, or you can go all out and create a new room in your home.
Larger Room Addition – A bump-out addition or room extension essentially increases square footage of an existing room by relocating one or more of the exterior walls. This is a great addition if you and your spouse are tired of bumping heads in that cramped master bedroom or if the living room is becoming too small for your growing family.
Attic Addition – Storage space can be hard to come by, especially in newly designed homes. However, studies show storage is one of the most important factors for potential new home buyers who are shopping around. Plus, with the right contractor, you can create an attic space which can be used as a bedroom, an office, a playroom, you name it! This additional square footage will also increase your property value.
Detached Addition – A detached addition, also called an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), is a standalone space located somewhere on the same lot of a standard home. These fun dwelling units, sometimes known as tiny houses or granny flats, are excellent additions if you frequently host guests, have an older child living at home, or expect to eventually take care of elderly family members. This can be a more expensive addition project, depending on how functional you want the space to be; however, it will still increase the property value of your home by a wide margin.
How Much Does a Home Addition Cost?
Just like there are several different options for what type of home addition you would like, there is also an endless range of budgetary implications and cost factors to consider.
To start, adding an entirely new space to your home, such as an attic addition or detached addition, will cost more than if you decided to convert or expand upon an existing space. Furthermore, if this project involves plumbing upgrades and adjustments, like with a bathroom or kitchen addition, you can expect the final cost to be higher.
Ultimately, the cost of your home addition depends entirely on what you want and how much you’re willing and able to spend on it. Give yourself a firm budget before you begin exploring ideas and speaking with contractors. This will help keep you on the right track, from start to finish.
How do I Pick a Contractor?
Picking a contractor can be a challenging process, especially if you aren’t sure what questions to ask upfront. A good contractor can actually make or break the success of the entire project in addition to having a significant impact on your wallet.
We recommend always asking a few very important questions before hiring a contractor:
Are you licensed and fully insured?
Who will be working on this project and how will it be supervised?
What is the anticipated cost, timeline, and payment schedule?
What is your warranty policy?
How long have you been in business and can you provide references?
While this isn’t a comprehensive list of everything you’ll need to know about a contractor, it is a great place to get started, especially if you’re stepping in blind to work with a new company for the first time. If they don’t give an appropriate answer to any of the above questions, you should look elsewhere for services. Your beloved home isn’t worth the risk.
The Bottom Line
Now that you understand the basics of home additions, you can start narrowing your budget and exploring all the fun, creative ways to improve your home.
Here at SS Construction and Remodeling, our goal is to provide the best service when it comes to your new home addition. We specialize in residential homes and service the Aubrey, Frisco, and North Dallas areas. Our company has an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau plus a 5-star rating on Google. Contact us today at (469) 922-3858 or email us at ssconstructionremodelingllc@gmail.com
and let us help your home addition dream come true.