People buy a home they love and one that meets their needs. However, their needs change. A person might find they have added to the family, or they could now deal with an empty nest. Home trends change, and a person might want to update the residence. Often, this involves adding an addition to the home.
What should a homeowner know before embarking on this process?
Reasons to Add a Home Addition
A home addition is often used to create a separate area for entertaining or to engage in a hobby. A family might find they need more living space or another bedroom. Thanks to the global pandemic, many people now work from home and require an office to do so. The reasons for considering a home addition are endless, so every family needs to determine if this is the right option for their unique situation.
Move or Add on to the Home?
People may question whether they should move or add to the existing home. Renovating the home serves as the best option most times. The family can stay in a neighborhood they love and create the ideal home for their needs. The addition adds to the property value, and the family won’t have the hassle of moving. Selling a home and moving is expensive, so many families opt to add on to the existing home rather than take this drastic step. Erie Home (https://eriehome.com/) can be of help with this.
The Benefits of Adding to a Home
Adding on to the home allows the owner to create the perfect space for their needs. The home has more storage space, and the family won’t feel crowded. People may turn the space into a gaming haven or add a garage to store vehicles. Create a master suite to replace the master bedroom or add an in-laws suite for family members who come to stay long-term.
Finding the Right Solution
Before taking on this project, the homeowner must determine which home parts don’t meet their needs. For some, this will be the kitchen. Other people might find they want to add a sunroom to increase living space while enjoying the beauty of nature. In many cases, a homeowner chooses to add to the residence to add more space. Don’t make the mistake of adding on to the home just because doing so is widespread now.
The goal of any home addition is to meet the occupants’ needs while getting a good return on investment on the project. For some, this will mean a smaller project. Other homeowners, however, find the only solution to a challenge they face is to invest in a home addition.
Common Issues Seen in Renovation Projects
Homeowners must prepare to encounter challenges when completing this project. They may need to update various systems in the home before proceeding with the project or find they don’t have the room to expand. This could be because of local building codes or various other issues. The addition must blend in with the original structure, which can be difficult if materials aren’t available. The homeowner must also establish a budget and stick with it throughout the process. Any changes made once the work begins will significantly add to the final cost of the project.
Surviving a Home Addition Project
A home addition project takes time to complete. It can completely disrupt the lives of family members and lead to arguments and other issues. To reduce the disruption, families should take specific steps.
Establish boundaries for workers and family members. Allow workers to enter the home areas vital to the project and keep family members out of the way when they are doing their tasks. Determine which hours the contractor and their team will be home and talk with neighbors about the project. They need to know what to expect as the project moves forward.
Find activities outside the home so that workers can do their tasks uninterrupted. If the project is extensive, consider taking a vacation for a week or two. Another option involves moving out of the home while the contractor completes the work.
Ensure the workers have a clear path as they go about their tasks. Move furniture out of the rooms affected by the project, or cover the items with dust covers and push them out of the way. Any fragile and valuable items should be relocated to a part of the home that will not be undergoing work to ensure their safety.
DIY or Hire a Contractor?
Most homeowners choose to hire a contractor for a home addition. They lack the skills to do the work themselves. There are numerous benefits associated with hiring a contractor. This individual ensures the addition meets all building codes. Choose a contractor with the proper licensing and insurance, and verify that the license and policy remain valid. Finally, ensure they make the safety of all involved in the project a priority.
When choosing a contractor, read online reviews to learn about the experiences of others when working with each company. Ask to see portfolios of completed work and learn whether a visit to a finished project is possible. If it is, speak with the owner to learn how satisfied they are with the quality of the work.
Never choose a contractor based on price alone. The right contractor will work with the homeowner to achieve the stated goals while remaining within the client’s budget. Their goal is the customer’s satisfaction rather than their bottom line.
A home addition is a significant project for any individual or family. The right contractor makes the process easy. Choose the wrong company for the job, and the project will seem to take forever. Once done, the homeowner may not be satisfied, as the experience left a lot to be desired. Meet with multiple contractors before making this crucial choice. Those that do so typically find the project runs smoothly and the addition is everything they envisioned when they first started on it.
