Home additions can significantly increase the quality of a person’s lifestyle by providing them with more living space as well as increasing your home’s value. Of course, more space would mean convenience. Imagine having a bigger area to entertain guests or simply spend time with your family! Home additions can be done in every room or place in the house. When it comes to the different possibilities, you are only truly limited by your budget and your imagination!
What are some of the basic steps for an addition to your home? The first thing to consider is the time frame of the home addition project. Of course, you want to complete the home addition project in the shortest amount of time possible. However, do not rush things.
A rushed project could potentially cost you more money in the end and may not provide you the results you were hoping for. Take things slowly and plan carefully in order to achieve the look that you desire.
Next, you need to determine the property lines of your home.
Knowing where your property line begins and ends helps to develop a plot properly. This plot would include your home, the location of various home utilities and your landscaping.
You should also start familiarizing yourself with the different building codes, as there are certain codes that specifically apply to home improvement projects. You must be aware of state and city codes in order to avoid any troubles or hassles along the way.
The next step for an addition would be to develop your home addition design. It is imperative that you develop a design that would complement your current floor plan. Review the structure and the floor plan of your home and consider how the addition will change the context of your home. Consider how the new space will be used and incorporated into your existing home.
Also keep in mind how the addition will look from the outside; an oversized addition may crowd a smaller lot. Some neighborhoods may also have neighborhood guidelines regarding exterior changes to your home. You may want to hire a designer or an architect to assist with this step of this process.
They can help you maximize the use of your space as well as create eye-catching designs that would be economical to your home. I highly encourage everyone to consider your family needs today and into the future. Your family’s needs may be different within a few years and this could influence your home addition plans.
A very important step in the home addition process is establishing a budget. Even the most detailed oriented home addition projects will likely go over budget. There are always incidental costs that are overlooked and not accounted for in the original budget. Incorporate a “slush fund” in your budget to help offset those unaccounted for costs that inevitably arise during the home addition project.
Lastly, hire a team of professionals to get your home addition project off to the right start! Make sure you hire professionals who are qualified, licensed, and properly insured. Be certain that the contractor and other professionals you hire understand what you want for your home addition and are aware of your budget.
You also want to be certain that you have an open line of communication with your contractor so there are no surprises in the end. Be sure to have a signed, written contract between you and your contractor that outlines the work to be completed.