Tag: home addition tips

What Do I Need To Do To Add On To My House

A home addition is an exciting yet stressful experience. With so many options, homeowners often find themselves struggling to come up with the right additions. Since the rate of returns on practical home additions is comparatively more than homes without one, it is logical that more and more homeowners are looking for home additions and spending time on home addition designs. So, let’s take you through the process of what you need to do to transform your old house into a dream home.

Ask Yourself How Much Are You Willing To Spend?

The first and most important thing you should ask yourself when it comes to home additions is the amount you are willing to spend. Surprisingly, the majority of homeowners ignore this question, which leads to trouble down the road. The thing is that a home addition is a broad idea. This means that you can pretty much do anything as long as you are willing to spend money.

However, not everyone has an unlimited budget. That said, you will need to consider the foundational, labor, and other additional costs. Having an estimate of the project will give you a better idea of what you can and cannot do considering your budget. The last thing you would want is the total cost surpassing your planned budget, turning your savings to zero.

Do I Need A Contractor?

Yes, a home addition without a contractor will simply be a silly mistake. Depending on your home addition, you may require permits from the local authorities and this is where a contractor comes in. Plus, contractors have sufficient experience and skills along with expert labor who will make sure the work is done properly and according to the standards.

However, finding a good builder is difficult. You will need to put in some time and effort until you can find a trustworthy contractor. Once you have found one, interview them and share your ideas. Finally, close the deal via a mutual contract so that you are protected by law as well.

Check If You Can Remodel An Existing Space

Remember, a home addition does not come cheap. It is going to cost you money one way or the other. Therefore, it is not wise to jump straight to planning a room addition. If you are a bit smart and clever, you should look around if you can remodel an existing space. The reason is that remodels are relatively cheaper and more affordable than home additions.

Maybe you have a basement or an attic that needs a bit of renovation and upgrades to turn it into a living space. Plus, if you want to expand a particular area of the house such as the kitchen, you can remodel it and make some space for new additions.

Check If Foundation Work Needs To Be Done

Before you can begin building the foundation, you will need to consult an architect too. Regardless of the size of the project, an architect will help you use the available space most effectively and efficiently. In most cases, room additions get a full-scale foundation so, building the foundation is a pre-requisite. It can take many days or weeks and is carried out by experts.

But it might be that you do not need any foundation work. This will cut costs. However, you cannot be so sure until you have consulted your contractor and architect. If you have a slightly old house, the foundation might be intact and the contractor won’t need to correct it before adding new space to your house. That said, make sure if your home addition project requires any foundation work to be done.

Decide If You Want To Build Up Or Out

Building up is less expensive as it does not require any foundation and excavation work. But you will need the help of an architect since building up is relatively more complicated than staying on the ground.

However, if you want to build out, that is going to save you money as well but such additions are usually used as home offices, garages, and guesthouses.

Final Word

Home additions can make your money worth it if done the right way. But if you are careless, you might find your investment going down the drain. Therefore, ask yourself the questions mentioned above before planning a home addition so that you are aware of the pros and cons, and then contact architects builders DC.

How To Make Your Home Addition Or Remodel Stress-Free

There comes a time when you might want to add some space to your home or remodel it entirely by hiring expert architects and builders. Both processes tend to take time and you need to be on the watch every step of the way. While it can take the life out of you by the time it is finished, there are certain tips that you should consider if you want to make the process stress-free.

Plan For Home Addition Costs

The first thing you need to do when it comes to adding some space or remodeling is planning. You need to put down everything on paper so that you exactly know what needs to be done. There are several reasons for that. The most important being that since there are a lot of options available out there, it is easy to lose focus.

You need to know what needs to be done and what other additions are needed. From the floor types to the color of the walls, everything needs to be planned thoroughly. Another important reason is that it helps you achieve an idea about the home remodeling costs.

Although you are not going to have the exact remodeling costs since there are a lot of factors involved but at least you will get your head around the most major components of the addition.

Consider Zoning Laws & Codes

Although your architect and construction manager are expected to be aware of the zoning laws and codes, you should be aware of them as well to avoid being involved in a legal tussle down the road. That way, you will know at the back of your mind that everything is on the right track and nothing is illegal. If you were to leave everything on the contractor and architect, you might be informed of the illegalities later down the road.

Hire The Right People

The next important part of the home addition process requires hiring the right people. While people may not realize this or overlook this factor most of the time, hiring the right people makes a lot of difference. If you choose to hire some non-professionals then expect nothing more than a shoddy job. You need to go through different steps to ensure that you are doing the process right.

First look for an architect, who designs your addition and makes it appealing and unique. They should explain the entire process along with the specifications as well. Then, you are going to need a contract manager who will find the right builder for you to put your plans in place.

Follow The Progress

Once you are done designing the addition and hiring the contract manager, the work shall begin instantly. However, that does not end there for you. You need to follow the progress. Following the progress is necessary to ensure that the workers are doing things the right way and are using the right materials as well. If you were to be too lazy and overlook such important steps, you are most likely to end up with poor-quality construction. The reason is that as soon as you look away, the workers might replace your materials with substandard items.

Prepare The Rest Of Your Home

Even though you are just adding a room to your house, you are going to need to prepare the entire house. It is going to be a lot of dirt and dust and most importantly, you do not want to damage anything during the process. Therefore, prepare the rest of your home such as covering the furniture or entryways to prevent anything from getting scratched or damaged.

Adapt To The Changes

You will need to adapt to the ongoing changes for a while. Since it is the construction we are talking about, you will face a lot of disturbances and chances are that comfort is not going to be available. Therefore, you have to be mentally ready and accept everything that is going on around you.

Final Word

Planning a home addition or remodel can be a complicated and stressful process. However, if you were to consider the steps mentioned above and hire reliable home addition companies DC, you are bound to make the process much easier.