home addition preparation

How to Prepare for a Home Addition

Many homeowners find themselves looking to add square footage, living space, and value to their home. Deciding on a home addition is no simple matter, and there are several aspects to consider.

Just like with any remodeling project, having an addition started on your home means that you will need to hire contractors, make very important decisions, and be realistic about your budget.

It’s  also important to remember that a portion of your home will be filled with dust, plaster, nails, and other construction materials for the duration of the project, so timing is everything.

If you’re dreaming of a home addition, take a look at these tips on how to prepare for a home addition:

Who Should Do the Work?

It may be tempting to make your simple home addition a do-it-yourself project, but unless you’re a professional contractor, don’t do it.

There’s no such thing as a simple home addition. There are elements to remodeling such as zoning laws, maintaining structural integrity, and power sources to be aware of.

Only a professional contractor should be trusted with home additions. Make sure to do your research and only hire someone who is bonded, licensed, and insured.

Look at your prospective contractor’s track record and see if their work speaks for themselves. Ask people in your community for references and reviews – both good and bad – to help you narrow your search.

When it comes to aesthetics, it’s important that what gets built is something that will look and feel like part of your existing house rather than something that has just been tacked on. A midcentury modern room isn’t going to mesh with your colonial.

You’ll want to consider resale value so that if you do choose to sell your home, no one will be able to tell that there was an addition.  Check out some examples of seamless additions from ThisOldHouse.com.

How Much Will It Cost?

In many cases, the answer to this questions begins with you.  It isn’t so much how it will cost, as much as it is what you have to spend.  The cost of a home addition varies widely depending on several factors, including the type of room you want to add and where you live.

Make sure you sit down and come up with a budget that you are comfortable working with, and go from there. Some homeowners pay for additions by refinancing their home, and some lenders offer construction loans based on the future value of the property after the improvements have been made.

Talk to your contractor and make sure that what you have in mind for your addition falls easily within your budget. HouseLogic.com offers a great tool for calculating your remodeling budget.

Although it’s a small consideration in comparison with the cost of adding a room, keep in mind the fact that your homeowners insurance may go up. Be sure to contact your insurer before you begin building.

If you have a homeowners association that governs what you can and can’t do to your property, be sure to contact them to make sure you are working within the guidelines of the HOA.

What Inconveniences Should You Prepare For?

Adding a room can be a noisy experience, so if you work from home you might want to plan for any contingency. If you’re expanding your kitchen, consider how you’ll prepare meals during construction. You might want to think about kenneling your pets if the construction noise is too much for them.

Depending on the scope of the project, you’re going to be inconvenienced at least a little bit.  This doesn’t mean you’ll have to suffer, though. Any professional team worth their salt will do everything practical to control dust and limit the disruption to your routine.

For people whose kitchens are being expanded or remodeled, it might make sense to set up a temporary kitchen by moving appliances to another part of the house. Check out this article from Houzz.com for temporary kitchen ideas.

But this isn’t a time to keep quiet and hope the inconveniences aren’t too much of an issue. If you’re concerned about any of these types of issues, talk to your contractor.

Have an open, honest conversation before you sign a contract about what they will be doing to keep you up and running, how long the project will realistically take, and what your limitations will be during construction.

How Do I Begin My Home Addition?

JM Construction is happy to talk to you about your ideas, your budget, and a realistic time frame for the home addition you’ve been dreaming about.

We believe that the process and systems we institute to meet your needs are as important as the final product.  Request a Project Consult today!

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