Additions can be a great way to get more functionality out of your current home. Maybe it’s an extra bedroom for your expanding family, a home office space for easier work from home or even a sunroom or hobby area. Your add-on could even be adding more space to existing rooms, removing or extending walls to let a kitchen or bedroom flow seamlessly into your new space. There are a lot of possibilities.

Regardless of what the new space will be used for, adding on is a big undertaking and can be kind of a big investment as well. Even fairly small additions can be quite a large project, so it’s important to know exactly what your plans are from the beginning. To help, here are a few things to consider when making plans to add on to your home.

Planning the Expansion

Though you may have a good idea of where you want your addition to go, it’s important to spend some time actually planning it out. Consider details such as where the property line is located, whether there are any restrictions for size or location based on your building codes, and whether there will be issues with the utilities or the slope of your property that could cause problems. Taking the time to rule out potential problems upfront can save you a lot of headaches down the road.

Another thing to keep in mind is how well your addition will combine with your existing home. While you obviously have a reason to want to add more square footage, if you just have an added room tacked on awkwardly, it can have a major impact on your home’s overall value. A good addition will blend seamlessly into your home, matching exterior and interior, making it difficult to tell an addition was made down the road.

Cost and Investment

Depending on the sort of addition you want to make, the budget for your add-on can fall within a pretty wide range. It’s very important that you spend some time researching exactly what will make your expansion plans a reality. The time of year, materials costs, and factors such as they size and types of materials you choose will affect how much you will need to spend. Taking the time to do your research and consult your contractor about the options available to you can end up making a big difference in the final cost of your expansion.

This is important not just because of the immediate impact to your pocketbook, but also the overall difference that it makes on your home’s value. All the money that you put into your addition is an investment in your home, and you want to get the biggest return on that investment that you can. Making smart choices and not letting your budget balloon out of control will go a long way toward maximizing your home’s value in comparison to the cost of your add-on. It’s more work now but you’ll be thanking yourself when it comes time to sell your home at some point down the road.

Choosing the right contractor is one way that you can affect the overall cost of your addition as well as maximize the return on your investment. We can help you with this, matching you with contractors and other pros that have worked with our clients over the years. We are here to be your resource for all things real estate for the life of you and your home. Give us a call today for a recommendation!