Adding An Addition Onto Your House: What You Need To Know

When it comes to adding on to your home, it can be tough to know what you don’t know. Your questions might outnumber answers. How will an addition affect resale value? What are the building codes involved? Can you DIY it or do you need to hire a contractor? 

Whether you're thinking of adding on a second floor, or just putting in a cute dormer, all of these are questions to consider before adding on to your living space. 

Should I Add An Addition To My House?

Whether it's a small bump-out addition with a remodel, or a full-blown addition project, house additions are investments. If you do not plan on moving from the home, you have more incentive to make it yours. The value you receive from a new room or a second story can be enjoyed for many years to come. 

However, if you may sell the house in the future, you need to think about the resale value. Make sure the add on is cost-effective. If the value of your home increases with a tasteful addition, investing in your home could have a high return on investment.

Consider these three questions before adding on to your home.

How Much Does An Addition To Your Home Cost?

How much money an addition costs depends on the variables of your home and what you want. The bigger the project, the more money it will cost. If you're hiring a contractor, you may see a wide range among different contractor estimates. You may be able to DIY the project, but you must be confident in your skill and willing to sacrifice your time.

 

When it comes to adding on, you need to set some limits for yourself. It’s easy to say you want to double the square footage of your home, but is it something you can afford? Are you able to add a sunroom and maintain your home’s value?

 

“How much” is a broad question that covers a lot of ground. It can cover a very elementary question like “How much do we want to spend?” or “How much room do we want?”

 

“How much” can also cause answer you might not want to hear. Questions like “How much do we need this space?” or “How much are we willing to put up with the dust, noise and strangers working on our house?” or "How much time will it take?"

 

When you’re honest with yourself about the answers to the question of “how much,” you’ll have a better idea of your needs and expectations, and you’ll lay out the groundwork for the project ahead. 

 

Adding an addition can require a big investment of your time and money. It can also disrupt the comfort of your home for a time. 

Is This A DIY Project Or Will You Hire A Contractor?

The next big question to ask before you pick up the phone or head to the hardware store is “Who’s doing the work?”

 

You can go a couple different ways with this question. First, you can take it on yourself. With that, you’ll have to make sure you, and anyone working with you, has the skill and know-how to do the job right. You don't want to get started on a project to figure out you're in over your head. 

 

Imagine finding out you bit off more than you can chew after spending $8,000 on materials you can’t even use. Going it alone means you’re on the hook for every mistake you make. What’s worse, your mistakes might not come to light until you flip a light switch.

 

Before you begin, make sure you know your limitations, and know when you need help. If you can frame and hang drywall, but the thought of wiring makes your skin crawl, why not hire out a contractor? If you have a friend with electrical experience, maybe you could get them to help you out for pizza and beer.

 

Save money by hiring out contractors and doing some of the work yourself. Contracting out a job is what a contracting company does when you hire them. Oftentimes, contractors will add a markup to the subcontractors they hire. You’re paying for the recommendation of your contractor, but you’re also paying for the contractor standing by the work their subcontractor performs.

 

However, if you don’t know a hammer from a hole in the ground, you’re better off hiring a general contractor outright. On something as important as an addition to your home, get professional help. The right contractor can build your dream addition. And their work may up your home's resale value.

 

How do you find the right contractor? It’s all in who you know or the company that gets recommended the most, and, in the end, not necessarily the cheapest option is the better but the one that has a great track record at doing it. With us you can be confident that you will get the right quote for your project and the best quality both in workmanship and materials, we use the best of the best because we know how important it is for you, and for us too, because we know that if we do a good job is very likely that you will be more inclined to recommend us to a friend or family when they want something built too! 

​

Taken from www.rocketmortgage.com

​

​