Some Improvements to the Household That Will Change Your Life Forever

 You’ve probably stumbled here from thinking of ways to improve your home drastically and are looking for design inspiration in improving every square footage of your home. When just re-arranging things around and cleaning up Marie Kondo-style just don’t cut it anymore – maybe it’s about time you think about undergoing and taking up home addition ideas for your property. It’s a fruitful win-win situation that comes at a cost of time and money – but the pay offs are bountiful so we highly doubt you’d even mind. 

 

What is a home addition?

A home addition is when you make changes to your existing structure in order to increase its functionality, aesthetics, and/or utility. The most common types include:

Addition of rooms

This can be done by either building new walls and ceilings or simply moving furniture into another space. You may also want to consider putting in a bathroom if there isn’t one already. It can also be an improvement of the primary or master bedroom.

Adding onto the roof

If you have enough land, this could mean extending the length of your current house. However, if you only have a small amount of land, then you might need to look into other options such as raising the floor level.

Building a garage

A garage will allow you to store more vehicles than what would fit inside your carport. They come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from simple sheds to multi-car garages.

Bump outs

These are basically extensions made to the side of your house. Bump-outs are great because they give you an extra living area without having to buy any additional real estate.

Remodeling

Remodeling involves making major structural changes to your home. For example, you can completely replace your kitchen cabinets, floors, countertops, etc.

 

If you decide to go ahead with a home addition, you should know that doing so requires some planning and preparation.

 

Types of home additions and their costs

There are two main categories of home additions: DIY and professional. While both require similar amounts of work, each has different benefits and drawbacks. In general, DIY projects tend to save you money while professional ones often provide better quality results. Here’s how these two types of additions stack up against each other:

Costs

If you choose to hire a pro, expect to spend anywhere (for the cost of labor and the building cost) between $10k-$50k depending on the size of the job. On average, DIYers end up spending somewhere between $5k-$15k.

Time required

Professional jobs take longer due to the fact that professionals must plan everything down to the last detail. As a result, they typically take 2 months to complete while DIY projects generally take 1 month to finish.

Quality

Professionals use high-quality materials which means that they won’t crack or fall apart over time. DIYers, on the other hand, rely mostly on low-cost materials like plywood and dry wall. While DIY projects don’t always turn out perfectly, they’re still less expensive than hiring pros (This means there’d be an additional cost when you patch things up – which pretty much is like unprecedented extra costs). Plus, you’ll get to enjoy the process along the way!

Popular room additions

Here are five popular room additions that homeowners frequently add to their homes:

Kitchen remodel/kitchen additions – This is probably the biggest room addition that people do. It includes things like adding an island, installing custom cabinetry and counter space, replacing appliances, and even changing the layout of the entire kitchen.

The average price tag for a full kitchen renovation ranges from $20k -$40k.

Home office – People who work at home often find it difficult to focus during certain times of the day. To help them stay productive throughout the day, many homeowners install a dedicated workspace that serves as a functional space for them to set up their computers and keep important documents organized.

You can easily build a home office for around $1k.

Garage – A garage allows you to park multiple cars at once. The best part about garages is that they usually cost much less than buying a second property.

On average, a single-car garage runs around $5k.

Master suite or a guest bedroom – Either option works just fine as long as you have enough livable space available. In choosing to add either a master suite or a guest bedroom, you need to make sure that there isn’t already another bedroom in the same location. If there’s a lot of rooms now on a given floor or area, then you might want to consider moving one of those rooms into the master suite instead. This would be a perfect room for the kids, or an in law suite whenever they decide to make a visit.

As far as prices go, most contractors charge somewhere between $15k-$30k per bedroom.

Bathroom renovations – Most bathrooms include a shower, toilet, sink, vanity area, tub/shower combo, and possibly a walk-in closet. But of course, to cram all of those in, you might need several more square feet of space. If you can’t afford that, then you’re betting off with micro – additions. 

Depending on what kind of upgrades you’d like to see, this project could run anywhere from $2k-$25k.

 

Doing it on your own (DIY) or hiring a contractor

While doing it yourself may seem tempting, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should try to tackle every aspect of the project by yourself. Instead, you should only attempt tasks that you know well and feel comfortable with. This will ensure that you avoid making costly mistakes and also allow you to be more efficient when working on various aspects of the project.

In terms of costs, if you decide to hire someone else to handle all the hard stuff, you’ll likely pay anywhere between $3k-$8k. On the other hand, if you choose to do everything yourself, expect to spend roughly $10k.

If you’ve decided to take on the task of building your dream house, here are some tips:

Get estimates before starting

Before getting started, ask several different companies how much each job would cost. You never know until you actually start looking into pricing whether any particular company has been inflating its quotes. Also, don’t forget to factor in materials and labor costs.

Make sure you’re not overpaying

When comparing bids, always look closely at the total amount listed under “Total Cost.” Make sure that you aren’t paying too much extra for items such as permits, inspections, etc.

Don’t skimp out on quality

While you shouldn’t get bogged down with details, it’s still worth taking the time to carefully inspect the products being used. For example, if you plan on using wood siding, make sure that it looks new and hasn’t been damaged in transit. Similarly, if you plan on installing tile floors, make sure that they haven’t cracked or broken due to age.

Home improvement projects tend to vary greatly depending on which type of homeowner you are. Some people prefer to stick to small jobs while others enjoy tackling larger ones.

 

The value of adding a room to a house

The value of adding an additional bedroom is pretty obvious. However, many homeowners find themselves wanting to expand their homes because they simply can no longer fit everyone comfortably inside. Having a two-story addition onto your existing structure allows you to create a large living space without having to build a completely separate residence. This second-story addition allows for a more flexible living arrangement – may it be that you decide that the extra space is perfect for a hobby space or extra living quarters (but it all really depends on how much square foot you have from the get-go). So, is that second-floor addition fit for your day-to-day living? 

 

When to add an addition to your home

Deciding to have an addition to your home isn’t something that you have to wait around forever for. In fact, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to consider adding one sooner rather than later. Here are just a few examples:

 

You need more storage space

One thing about modern homes is that we often end up needing more storage space than our original plans called for. If this sounds like you, then you could benefit from expanding your current home. By creating another floor above ground level, you’ll gain access to even more closet space.

 

Your kids are growing fast

As children grow older, so does their desire to play outside. As a result, parents often struggle to keep them entertained indoors. To help solve this problem, you could install a loft area where your child can hang out and watch TV. This will give him/her a place to escape when he/she gets bored.

 

It makes sense financially

As mentioned earlier, adding an addition to your home doesn’t necessarily mean spending thousands of dollars. Instead, you should be able to save money by doing things yourself instead of hiring professionals. The only way to really determine what works best for you is to talk to contractors who specialize in remodeling houses. They can provide you with all sorts of advice regarding additions

 

Room addition vs bump out

If you’ve decided that you’d like to add an extension to your home, then you may wonder exactly what kind of project you’re dealing with. There are two main types of extensions – Room Additions and Bump-outs. Both options allow you to increase the size of your home but differ slightly in terms of appearance.

 

Bump-out

A bump-out addition involves building an entirely new section of wall between rooms. It usually consists of a windowless exterior wall that extends outward from the side of the house. When viewed from the front, these walls appear as blank slabs of concrete. Because they don’t contain any windows, they also offer little privacy.

The average cost of a bump-out  is typically less than a room addition. You won’t have to worry about finding materials such as drywall or insulation since everything needed already exists within the frame of the house itself. Additionally, it’s easier to complete on your own. All you need to do is hire someone to cut through the old foundation and dig down into the soil beneath. Once completed, you can start working on finishing off the interior portion of the wall.

The only predicament you might face with this is zoning restrictions which would opt for more well-allocated outdoor space rather than having a house keep on pushing boundaries and territories in their prescribed area (They’re pretty particular with curb appeal, so sometimes that extra living space really isn’t going to cut it). 

 

Room addition

In contrast to a bump-out, a room addition requires you to tear down part of the existing structure before starting work. Afterward, you’ll use the same type of construction methods used to construct a normal room. However, because you’re removing some of the existing walls, you’ll need to make sure that you leave enough room for plumbing pipes, electrical wires, etc. Otherwise, you risk damaging other parts of the house during demolition.

Because you’ll be tearing down a part of the existing framework, you’ll likely spend more time completing the job than if you were simply extending a single room. Still, you shouldn’t expect to pay nearly as much as you would for a full renovation. In fact, most people find that they end up saving money over the long term.

 

Renovation vs remodel: Which one is right for me?

When deciding whether to renovate or remodel, there are several factors that you must consider:

First, you want to ensure that whatever option you choose offers the features that you require. For example, if you plan to build a deck onto your property, you might decide to go ahead and get started now rather than waiting until later. If you wait too long, however, you run the risk of having to buy additional equipment at great expense.

Next, you want to think about how much time you have available to finish the project. A lot depends upon when you purchased your current residence. If you bought it years ago, chances are good that you still have plenty of time left to complete the task. On the other hand, if you recently moved into the area, you may not have many months remaining before you move out again. This means that you should probably focus on making improvements that will last longer than just a few weeks.

Finally, you want to take into consideration the amount of money that you currently budgeted for renovations. While this isn’t always easy to determine, you can often estimate what kind of return you’d receive by selling your home after completion. The higher the price tag, the greater chance that you could recoup all of your investment in the form of increased sales revenue.

 

Saving money on home addition costs

If you’ve decided to add an extra bedroom to your home, then you don’t necessarily need to break the bank to accomplish this goal. There are numerous ways that you can save money while adding space to your abode without sacrificing quality. Here are three tips that you can follow to help reduce the cost of building a new room:

1) Use recycled material

One way to keep costs low is to look for items that you can reuse instead of purchasing brand new ones. You can easily recycle old doors, windows, flooring, roof tiles, siding, cabinets, countertops, sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, faucets, fixtures, lighting, appliances, and even furniture. By recycling these materials, you won’t only cut back on expenses but also create less waste.

2) Hire professionals who specialize in home additions

Another way to minimize costs is to hire professional contractors who know exactly what they’re doing. They can provide advice regarding which products work best with your particular situation and make sure that everything goes smoothly from start to finish. When hiring them, ask questions such as “What’s included?” and “How do I avoid problems moving forward?”

3) Build slowly

Another thing that you can do to lower construction costs is to begin small. Instead of starting off with a large-scale project like constructing a whole house, try tackling smaller projects first. These include things like installing a bathroom or kitchen remodel, replacing a sink, fixing up a porch, painting walls, etc. Once you’ve completed one of those tasks, you’ll be able to see whether or not you actually enjoy working on larger jobs. If so, you can continue down that path. Otherwise, you can simply stop where you are and concentrate on finishing the job that you already began.

 

FAQ

How do much does a home addition cost on the house?

The average cost of a home addition ranges between $10,000-$20,000 depending on the size of the project. However, there are some factors that affect the final bill. For example, the type of home improvement you choose, the number of rooms added, and the location of the property all play important roles in determining the total cost.

Is It cheaper to add on or build up for a home addition?

It depends on how many bedrooms you plan to have. Adding onto your existing structure will likely result in more expensive prices than if you were to construct a completely separate building. This is because it requires additional planning and permits. In most cases, however, both options end up costing about the same.

How much does a 20×20 addition cost?

The usual price of 20×20 house addition costs around $42k to $88k, with costs averaging at around $65k. The best advantage of a 20×20 room addition to your home is to save you from buying a new home just by offering ample extended space for you and your growing family to live comfortably in your property. 

Is it worth it to put an addition on a house?

Putting a well-planned home addition to your existing home will increase its value significantly. This means that if you decide to sell your current residence, you’ll get more cash than if you had built a completely new structure. In fact, according to real estate experts, homes with two stories have sold for about 10% higher than comparable houses that were constructed using traditional methods. So, yes, it definitely pays to invest in a home addition!

How much does a 1000 square foot addition cost?

A typical 1000 sq ft addition costs approximately $25,000 – $35,000. Depending on how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want to add, this figure could go up to $50,000 – $75,000.

How much does a contractor usually cost? How long does it take to complete a home addition?

Depending on the scope of the project, a general contractor may charge anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 per month. A skilled carpenter should expect to earn $40/hour while a handyman might only need to pay $30/hour. On average, a homeowner can expect their project to last 6 months.

How can I  finance home additions with a home equity loan?

Homeowners who wish to use a home equity line of credit as part of financing their home addition must meet certain requirements before they apply for such loans.

First, borrowers must own their primary residence and-

Second, they cannot owe any other debt against their property besides what’s owed on the mortgage itself.

Thirdly, homeowners must show proof of income through tax returns or bank statements showing consistent monthly payments over the past six months.

Lastly, applicants must provide documentation proving that they intend to occupy the newly created living area within 12 months after completion of the work.

Are architects needed for additions?

Yes, but not necessarily. Architects typically help plan out projects so that everything goes smoothly during construction. They also ensure that building codes are followed throughout the entire process. But most importantly, they make sure that every aspect of the design meets safety standards set forth by local authorities.

 

Finding the perfect contractor for your home addition project

When choosing a contractor, there are several things that you’ll want to consider:

1) Experience

Ask them questions regarding previous experience working on similar projects. You don’t want someone inexperienced doing the job because he won’t be able to handle unforeseen problems as they bring your home addition ideas to life.

2) Insurance

Make sure that all workers involved in the project carry insurance coverage. If something happens to one worker, then his employer would cover him. However, if an accident occurs due to negligence on the part of another employee, then the owner is responsible for paying damages.

3) References

Get references from former clients. Check online reviews too. It’s important to find people who’ve used these services previously. Make sure they get you additions ideas correct down to the last square footage.

4) Licenses & Certifications

Find out whether the company has been certified by various organizations like the Better Business Bureau. Also, check if they’re licensed by state agencies.

 5) Warranties

Most companies offer warranties on materials and labor. These warranties protect customers from defects in products and faulty workmanship.

6) Payment Terms

Be clear about payment terms upfront. Some businesses will require full payment at the time of signing contracts. Others will ask for partial deposits first. And some will even accept cash!

7) Quality Control

This refers to inspections done prior to starting the actual project. For example, builders often inspect homes before selling them.

 

If you’re in Northern Colorado and you’re looking for a reliable general contractor who can easily get your done in the best, fastest, and safest way possible, you may want to call Local Map Construction at 720-635-2941 or send an e-mail to get a response ASAP.

 

Read more here: In The Long Run, Are Home Additions Worth It?

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