What You Need to Know Before Building a Home Addition
Building an addition on your home can be a stressful, yet exhilarating process. There are so many factors to consider that it’s enough to make anyone’s head spin. But when beginning a home addition, it can really help to know where to start.
You’ll likely be in contact with some home addition contractors, and they can help you understand what’s possible. But before you take that leap of faith and begin a home addition, we’d love to offer up some knowledge and tips that could help you make an informed decision. Here’s what you need to know before building a home addition.
A reason
Embarking on a home addition project is something that will take a considerable amount of time and money to complete. It may also make areas of your home virtually uninhabitable for a brief spell. Because of this, you need to ask yourself why you’re interested in building on an addition to your home. Maybe you bought the house with the plan to expand on it later, or maybe you’re thinking of starting a family. You’ll likely be happier with your new home addition if you have a good reason for it.
Permits
Many people who want a home addition aren’t sure where to begin. Examining your state’s zoning laws is as good a starting point as any. Though you may own your home and the land it sits on, you can’t just call a contractor and have them get to work. You’ll have to pull the correct permits, have your property inspected and ensure everything is legally in order before you begin. The nice thing about working with local contractors is that they’re usually familiar with your local zoning laws, so a quick phone call could be extremely helpful.
Make sure there’s a fit
Before you begin phoning home addition contractors, consider whether your home addition will be a fit not only with the rest of your existing home, but with the neighborhood at large. For example, because precisely matching the original siding to your home can be difficult to do with an addition, you could consider a different type of complementary exterior material. A contractor or architect could help seamlessly blend your addition into your existing home.
As for the neighborhood, you should try to get a lay of the land when it comes to the houses surrounding yours. You may want to know if most of the houses in your neighborhood have an extra bathroom or extra bedroom, as that could help you decide what type of addition you may want for your home to maintain the cohesiveness of the neighborhood.
Don’t stress over return on investment
While you can have an addition put on your home for any reason, if the sole reason is to turn a profit, you may end up disappointed. An addition will likely raise the price of your home, but your return on that investment will likely land between 49 percent and 65 percent. Constructing an addition that you and your family will use and enjoy will lead to greater satisfaction than solely trying to boost the value of your home.
Call for your home addition today
Hopefully you now know where to start when it comes to home additions. If you need home addition contractors, get in touch with Green View Building & Design Company, Inc., where we’ve been skillfully renovating homes for over 30 years.
Categorised in: Home Additions