A common problem homeowners eventually face seems tricky to solve: What do you do when you love your location and your neighborhood, but feel like you’re growing out of your house? When moving isn’t the answer you’re looking for, adding to your home might be the way to go. From extra bedrooms and bathrooms to a larger kitchen, the benefits of making home additions are fantastic, but there are still risks involved and important guidelines to follow.
Do Plan Extensively
All home remodeling projects require extensive planning, but planning for projects as drastic as making additions to your home is especially important. There are legal restrictions to consider, such as ordinances, zoning laws, and other rules, so you'll want these all sorted out well in advance. You'll also want to determine what materials your home's existing material is made of, and choose as close to a perfect match as possible. Finally, knowing your budget and determine if it's worth the value you're adding to your home. Divine Home Remodeling can help you with most of the planning required, so contact us to go over your options.
Adding space to your home is most likely a permanent change that will forever alter the house's layout so be prepared for how the addition will change the existing feel.
Do Add Extra Kitchen Space
Basically any kitchen improvement project will increase your home's value, and increasing its square footage is no exception. If you're planning on adding to your kitchen space, make sure the changes you make are functional for both you and your current buyers. If you plan on eventually selling your home, then a large chef's kitchen with upgraded appliances and stone countertops is sure to pay off.
Don't Overextend
The biggest mistake you can make while adding to your home is overbuilding at the expense of your lot size. Enlarging your kitchen or adding bedrooms or bathrooms will increase the value of your home, but it's absolutely vital to consider how this will affect your outdoor living space. Building to the edge of your property lines means sacrificing room for landscaping, patios, and play areas for children and pets. Overextending can also upset your neighbors and your homeowner's association, so be sure to check for local regulations regarding how far you can build on your lot.
Do Add Bathrooms
Adding bathrooms can be just as beneficial as a kitchen addition when it comes to increasing your home's value. Whether you're increasing the number of bathrooms to accommodate bedrooms, adding a bathroom to a floor that currently lacks one, or adding a powder room to the main floor, it's hard to go wrong. You'll just want to check with a professional to make sure that the new bathroom's location and functionality makes sense with your home's layout, and Divine Home Remodeling can help you in that regard.
Don't Overdo Customization
If you plan on staying in your home for the decades to come, then feel free to go wild with your designs! However, if you plan on selling in the future, you'll want to consider the preferences of future homeowners and how they might affect their buying decisions. Intricate cabinetry and wild color schemes might be appealing to you now, but they could turn off future buyers. Neutral flooring and appliances is always a plus in this regard, so you'll want to design accordingly.
Home additions could be a fantastic renovation that converts your house from a space you're growing tired of into the home of your dreams. It's important to make sure that your additions satisfy your wants and needs, but it can be equally important to consider how it will accommodate the wants and needs of any future buyers. Following the guidelines above will ensure that you get the most value out of your home addition. If you're considering adding to your own home in the near future, contact Divine Home Remodeling today for consultation!