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Adding a New Room
Like your house and where the street you
live on is but tight on space? It can make
more sense to add on to your house rather
than going through the expense and trouble
of finding a new home and moving. Be aware,
however, that some house additions are more
desirable than others. Adding an extra bedroom
and/or bath (especially a master bedroom
suite), putting on a first floor family room,
or increasing the size of your existing kitchen
are all additions likely to recoup much of
their costs when the house is sold. However,
additions to accommodate highly personalized
hobbies can actually turn into liabilities
unless the room can be easily converted to
a more common use.
If you have decided to add a
room to your
house, consider the following:
- Make sure that local building codes will
allow you to put on the addition you want.
Consult the appropriate government agencies
before you proceed with your project -- you
may have to learn about set backs, square
footage limitations, and design review boards.
Also, be aware that local codes may require
you to update other parts of your house,
including its heating, plumbing, or electrical
systems, as part of the process, so find
out the specifics early on.
- Decide how much you want to spend. A little
research will give you an idea what the materials
for your addition may cost. Start with a
wish list of everything you desire for your
room; then decide what you really need to
have. It is very important not to over improve
your house: your addition should not make
your home too big or expensive for your location.
- Determine whether you will need to hire an
architect or if a general contractor can
handle the project. The larger and more complex
the addition, the more likely you will need
the services of professionals such as architects
or structural engineers. Design/build firms
offer the convenience of one stop shopping
for all the skills required -- including
help with the decorating -- but they tend
to be more expensive.
- Decide who you want to hire to build your
addition by asking friends and neighbors
about contractors they have satisfactorily
worked with. Be sure to check out projects
they have completed to make sure your standards
will be met. Check references, get all estimates
in writing, and read all contracts very carefully
before signing them. You should probably
get estimates for the project from three
contractors. It is often a mistake to select
the cheapest one. Any change orders during
the process should also be in writing. Remember
that the relationship between a home owner
and a residential contractor can be highly
personal.
Be realistic about how long it will take
to build your addition. Adding a new room
to an older house often turns up problems
that no one can foresee. Start your project
well in advance of any important occasion
you are counting on celebrating in it |
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