6 Things to Think About When Planning Your Home Addition
When planning for a home addition, you need to think about plenty of things. These things include: Your needs and wants These might sound the same, but they are pretty different. You might need a home addition because your family has grown since you bought your house, and you now need additional space. You do this because you can’t afford to buy a bigger, newer house right now, so you need to add to the one you have. On the other hand, you can add to your house or fix it up to increase its value or make it look better. These two reasons have different approaches, and the type of addition you go with will heavily rely on them. Once you have identified whether you need or want your home addition, you should consult home addition contractors to help you brainstorm the best project to go with. If you want to make your home bigger, add a master bedroom or a bathroom. You could also add a family room or home office to give your kids a place to play or give yourself a place to work. Think about whether you want or need the extra space and what kind of room would work best for your family, then work with the contractors to make your dream a reality. Budget How much are you looking to spend on the project? You need to think about this. If this is your first time doing it, you should consult an experienced professional to help determine the amount of money you should set aside for your project. Required legal documents In most jurisdictions, you need to get paperwork showing whether you can officially build the home addition. So, always get them to avoid being on the wrong side of the law. You’ll need to get some permits, like a building permit, to ensure that the addition is allowed on your lot based on the rules in your area. You’ll also need plot plans that show that the addition will stay on your land. In most cases, you’ll need floor plans for your home addition to determine how much space it will take up on your lot. You can get legal plans for your property from the Registry of Deeds in your area, but you must call them first to ensure you have all the information you need. They will also direct you to the right place to get the relevant documents. You must visit your town or city hall to get the other papers. Again, it’s best to call before going to the office to avoid wasting time looking for papers in the wrong place. Inspection of the existing utilities Before you can think about building, you need to know how your utilities are set up so that you don’t damage them as you add the new house. If you add a whole second floor, you will need more electricity and put a lot of pressure on your drainage system. As you can tell, your home addition must have all the services needed to be livable, like lights, running water, and other amenities. When […]
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Guide to Having a Smooth Process Adding a Home Addition
You can improve your living space without moving by adding to your house. If you add an extra room or a second floor to your current layout, everyone will have their own space. If you are a homeowner and want to raise the value of your home, adding a few square feet can be a great way to do so. Adding a bathroom, master bedroom and bathroom, sunroom, or second story can significantly raise the value of your home when it comes time to sell it. When you are planning, budgeting, and designing a home addition, there are several things you need to pay attention to for you to have a great addition. These things, as given by home addition companies, include: Define the reason for the addition Ask yourself why you want to add on to your house. You should tell the contractors on the job what your goals are, like giving your kids more space or giving your guests their bathroom. They usually know the easiest way to schedule these repairs so that the renovation project meets your goals and causes you the least trouble. Understand the permits and restrictions involved. When you add on to your house, you need permits and inspections from the city or county. These restrictions are meant to keep things from going wrong in the future and make sure that the building meets all the rules. Also, getting the right permits and inspections is important to ensure the work is done right, which is important when selling a home. If you know about the necessary permits, the structure might be safer than it is. Check out your city or county’s building and zoning websites to learn about your area’s restrictions. Most permits are for electrical, plumbing, and gas, but depending on where you live, there could be many more checks, like a limit on how many stories you can access well or sewer water sources. Some rules say how close your building can be to your neighbors, the curb, or the lots on either side. You should note that you might have to do a property survey to ensure that your planned addition doesn’t break any rules about property lines. In many jurisdictions, the homeowner, not the contractor, is the one who needs to ask for and get these permits, so make sure you know who is in charge of each step. Have the proper budget. Remodeling can be expensive. Consider the current value of the whole house to get an idea of how much your remodeling project will cost. A significant addition will probably cost at least 10–15 percent of your home’s value. After talking to contractors about how much the work will cost, figure out how you will pay for it. Paying with your savings, a loan, or a home equity line of credit? The budget has to fit into the amount of money that is available. You can be creative with how you pay, and many contractors would rather have a payment plan than one big lump sum. To save money, you could do some demolition work yourself, use old […]
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4 Home Addition Tips for the Perfect Addition
A home addition project adds space to your home and increases the house’s value. For you to properly add the new addition, there are a number of things you should do. Here are these things: Hire an experienced contractor The contractor you hire can make or break your project, so you should be ultra-cautious of the one you hire. As a rule of thumb, ensure that the home addition builder you hire is experienced and knows what they are doing. Instead of hiring the first person in the search results, take your time to meet several contractors in your area and interview them. During the interview, compare their quotes based on the project details, presentation, price, and communication skills. Anyone can say that they are experienced in home additions, so don’t simply take their word for it—ask for the references and contact them to understand the contractor better and how they work. Stick with the existing aesthetic A perfect home addition is one where the new addition blends seamlessly with the older house. If done properly, you shouldn’t be able to tell where the new structure ends and where the old one begins. Of course, you can’t achieve this if you don’t have a plan—you need to know what you are doing from your choice of material, design, and even color selection. For that perfect look, ensure that your addition matches your home’s current aesthetics and your contractor understands the importance of having a streamlined result. Don’t make too many compromises. Cutting corners might seem like an excellent way to cut costs, but this isn’t always the case. This is because you often end up hating the new addition as it often limits your square footage or affects the quality of your finish, appliances, and fixtures. To take pride in your addition, follow all the necessary home addition steps. You also should work with an experienced contractor who will help you explore all the creative solutions that might give your house a seamless look you are after. Set the right budget Plenty of people have had to halt their home addition projects in the middle when they run out of money. To avoid this, take your time and budget carefully before beginning your project. Go through everything carefully with your contractor and ensure that you haven’t overlooked any aspect of the process. It will even be better if you can go over the project’s demands with two or more experienced contractors to ensure that you have covered all ground before you kick off the project. When coming up with a budget, don’t set aside exact money that will exactly cover the project. It’s always wise to allocate 15-20% for unexpected expenses during the renovation. As the plumbers are connecting the new pipes, they might discover that the interior of the sewer is cracked, and you have to fix it. The extra amount you had allocated will cater for this. If you complete the project without touching the extra amount, you can always spend it on landscaping and furniture. As much as the furniture looks good, it might not be ideal […]
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4 Tips for Building an Addition to Your Home
Are you thinking about building an addition to your home? Here are tips you should consider as given by home addition companies: Do you need the addition? This is the first question to ask yourself. Some people think that they need to enlarge their houses often because they deem them too small or have some disposable income. In most cases, they don’t need the extra space. Before you begin your project, you should take your time and find out whether you genuinely need the home addition. If you are adding the addition because you have some money you have no use for, you don’t need the addition. On the other hand, if your family is growing and there is no extra space, it’s time to get a new addition. Have a budget If you have determined that you genuinely need an addition, the next thing to do is determine the amount of money you need to complete your project. The last thing you want is stalling your project midway. Thankfully, plenty of professionals can help you come up with a more accurate budget. As you are coming up with the budget, be honest with yourself. Can you afford the said addition? Unless you are remodeling the house for sale, the addition isn’t an investment, so it’s senseless to get a loan for it. The logical thing is to add the additions from your savings. From the money that you make, be honest and determine whether you can afford the addition from your savings. If you can’t, you are better off building a smaller house. Determine the type of addition you need What type of addition do you need? It’s vital you determine this as it affects the contractor you hire and the amount of money you set aside for the project. If your family is getting large and you need more space for them, you should add an additional bedroom or sitting area. If you are looking to sell the house later down the block, add a bathroom or kitchen. Remember, that the materials you use in your remodeling shouldn’t be too expensive that you fail to recoup your investment. For example, don’t use high-end countertop materials such as marble and granite. While they might be attractive to a potential buyer, you won’t get your money back. Find out who will do the project. It’s vital that you know who will handle the project. Of course, this depends on the nature of the project. If you are looking to add a kitchen, you will need to hire a kitchen professional. You can do some remodeling work by yourself, especially if they are minor projects such as replacing a door or window. Unless you have the skills, avoid doing the large projects by yourself. Instead, let a professional help you out. When it comes to hiring a professional, you can find one in plenty of places. A great place is to ask your friends and relatives. Is there a relative that recently hired a contractor? Ask them to refer you to them, especially if you like their work. You can also […]
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6 Tips For Building An Addition To Your Home
Are you having a home addition project? Here are tips to consider: Work with an expert A home addition project is an expensive endeavor and the last thing you want is to hire someone that botches up the project. To ensure this doesn’t happen, work with an experienced home addition builder. Before you begin working with the contractor, have everything in writing—this is solely to make the contract binding and have evidence should the contractor fail to deliver their end. The contract should clearly spell out what is included in the price so that you don’t keep being asked to pay random fees that can easily pile up and bury you. Although it’s good to have the contract in writing, you should note that this can’t account for unexpected problems that might arise later on. So, despite having everything in writing, it’s wise to prepare for surprises. Don’t go overboard When you want to impress and give your home the best look possible, it’s easy to go overboard. For example, it’s easy to go all the way out and build an extremely large addition. It’s also possible to be carried away and use the highest quality materials possible. To be on the safe side, construct a house of the right size. When it comes to materials, go for quality materials that will stand the test of time and withstand the usual wear and tear. Be decisive If you ask any home addition contractor, they will tell you of a horror story of when the homeowner changed their mind severally regarding the kitchen cabinets, paint or flooring while the project was underway. You should avoid this as it often causes plenty of confusion. It also increases the costs of labor and materials throwing your budget out of place. If you aren’t sure about how you want the cabinets, kitchen or any other part of the house to look, don’t begin the project. Wait until you are sure then find a contractor. If you aren’t sure about the look you want, get the input of a professional. Be flexible As much as you should to be decisive about what you want, you should be flexible in making important decisions. For example, if you had planned to install a magogany door but it’s not available, you should be flexible enough and install a fiberglass or steel door instead. This way you prevent the project from stalling because you can’t find the exact item you planned for. The only caveat to this is that your decisions shouldn’t affect your budget too much. Buy the materials in bulk To save money and get exciting discounts, you should buy the materials you need for your project in bulk. To attract even larger discounts, buy the materials from one company. If you live in a small town, it’s wise to do your shopping in a larger city as there are plenty of options there to choose from. Don’t shy away from negotiating with the contractor When the home addition companies DC give you their quotes, try to negotiate with them so that you can bring down the […]
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6 Ways To Add Additional Space in Your House
Whether you have outgrown your house or you want to give your house a new look, there are plenty of ways to add more space to the house. Which are these ways? Here they are as given by home addition companies: Enclose the patio When was the last time you used your patio? If you can’t remember, it might be wise to enclose it and use it as additional space. As you are remodeling the patio, you should note that it will be a lot of work, so be ready for it. To convert the patio into a livable space, you need to put up the walls, roof, and sometimes the foundation. You can do the work if you are a qualified technician but for the best outcome, let the work be done by an experienced contractor that knows what they are doing. Finish the unfinished areas of the house Most homeowners have unfinished areas of the house, and by finishing them, you will have additional space you can use with your family. If you have a room that you don’t currently use, you can remove the junk lying there and turn it into a livable space. As much as many homeowners have garages, they rarely use them. If you are one of these homeowners that don’t use their garages, you can finish it up and add more space to your house. Remodel the attic Does your house have an attic? You can easily turn it into a livable space without breaking the bank. The beauty of the attic is that it is already a stable structure with flooring and a roof. Since it’s already on the house’s main floor, it’s easy to transfer the electrical wiring and additional utilities, making it easy to turn it into a livable space. It’s common for the attic to be too short for you to be comfortable inside. If this is the case with you and you need to extend the height, do thorough research on the roofing permits and ensure that you have all of them before you begin your project to avoid being on the wrong side of the law. Bump out your house If your house still has space for outward extensions, you can bump out the house for additional space. Again, this will be complicated, and it’s best to work with experienced professionals that will properly add to the house without messing with the house’s initial design. Add a second story If you don’t have space to bump out the house, you can always add a second story to the house. As you can tell, the project will be expensive, but you can cut the costs by building it off-site then adding it later. Before beginning this project, ensure that your foundation can handle the extra weight. Of course, this means you need to undertake a battery of tests. The extra story shouldn’t mess with the house’s original look, so work with expert technicians who know what they are doing. Add an outdoor kitchen. If you love barbequing, an outdoor kitchen is a great addition to have. To avoid […]
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