Do you live in a medium-sized home and wish it was larger? If you’ve outgrown your space, building onto the home you already own can be a smart move.
Read more to learn about the costs associated with adding an addition to your home.
DIY isn’t always the best idea
If you’re a handy DIY type, hiring yourself can seem like a good idea. But even if you know your way around a tool belt, think twice before attempting to build your own addition.
Doing it yourself is perfect for a small improvement. But this scale of remodeling typically requires both a licensed architect and a contractor.
Consult with an expert. They will help you navigate local zoning laws and access building permits. They’ll also help you obtain a legal Certificate of Occupancy, which will be needed if you ever want to sell your home.
Building out
Expanding horizontally can be less expensive than building up. Just consider your yard and the way you use it.
Examine your lot size and determine what you can and can’t do. You may be losing valuable outdoor space that would inhibit the ability to install a pool or deck someday.
It’s all about what you want and what you have space for.
Building up
Building up usually means adding an entire second or third floor to your home. This typically costs more money.
When building out, you must pour a foundation. But that’s usually less costly than removing the roof, reinforcing the existing foundation to support more weight, and adding stairs.
However, if you have a smaller lot size, a vertical addition could be a good and possibly only choice.
Additions
Either up or out, the key to any addition is overall uniformity. Below are rooms that most people add to their home:
- Bathroom
- Bedroom
- Sunroom
- Expanding existing spaces
If the costs associated with additions will break your budget, there’s always the option of working with what you have. Convert a pre-existing space into the room you were looking into adding.
Examine your space and lot size, crunch the numbers, set a budget, talk with a professional, and plan to add that dream addition you’ve always wanted.