Are you thinking of adding a room to your house? Maybe you want a spare bedroom, or perhaps you would like to have an office space. Adding a room is a great way to increase the value of your home, but it can also increase your quality of life even if you never plan to sell. However, you should consider the points below as you think about exactly what and how you want to make an addition.
Type of Room
There are a few different ways to add a room. You could build onto the first floor of your home, or if your home has more than one story, you could add it to an upper floor. You could also build a free-standing structure in the backyard. If you choose this route, you may want to consider whether you want to add a bathroom onto it as well, particularly if you plan to use it as a guest house. Another option is building a room over an existing garage.
Zoning Issues and Other Rules
Before you get too far with your planning, you need to make sure that you are not violating any zoning regulations and find out whether you need any permits. Even if your addition is not going to trigger any issues with local law, if you have a homeowner’s association in your neighborhood, you might need to make sure you are not violating any of their rules either.
Paying For It
It’s also important to get finances squared away before you get started on a potentially expensive addition. You might want to dip into your savings, or you could borrow money. With a home equity line of credit or a home equity loan, you could get cash delivered as a lump sum that can cover the cost of your renovation. You can find out more by reviewing a guide that includes the best rates.
Remember Your Basement and Attic
Before you go full speed ahead, consider whether you already have an existing space that could be renovated. Priorities among these are your basement and your attic. There’s still plenty to think about if you are going to use these spaces. There’s a lot more to it than throwing a sofa in the basement and calling it the family room. For example, you’ll need to install insulation and some kind of moisture protection in your basement if it doesn’t already have it. You’ll also need to keep safety and building codes in mind. However, with some thought beforehand and some care in the process, these can be made into beautiful rooms that are the equal of any in the rest of the house.
An Expert Opinion
Even if you think you know exactly what you want, it is not a bad idea to consult a designer or an architect to see if you are on the right track as well as adding potential value into your home for ROI. You may be surprised at the potential issues that you wouldn’t have thought of that a professional might raise. You might also be pleasantly surprised by some of the suggestions that they make that improve your plans.
