The following contribution is from another author.
As a homeowner, several reasons may lead you to want an additional room in your home. These include your family size increasing, you needing extra space, or maybe wanting a home office, an extra bedroom, or a kitchen. Regardless, adding a new room to an existing home is tricky. However, it gives your home added value. According to experts, an extra bedroom, for example, will typically add 15% to your house’s resale value. But it would be best to consider several important things before undertaking such a project. Here are some expert tips on adding another room to your home.
Asses your other options first
Before you commit to building a new room, take the time to assess your options or consider alternatives. Creating a new room can cost money, will take a lot of time, and may even temporarily disrupt your daily life, amongst other inconveniences. Find out if other options are available to avoid all the hassle. For example, can you convert another space into a new room instead of building one? Consider spaces you already have, like your basement, attic, or garage, and find out if you can repurpose them as new rooms. What about spare bedrooms you hardly use? These can also be great alternatives.
Focus on your needs
So, you’ve assessed your options and decided that a new room is your best bet. Now, determine why you need that new room. What is your existing space lacking? Is the current kitchen space too small, or do you need an additional bathroom to ease the pressure on the current one? Also, consider how your new room will affect your existing space and identify potential problems. Will you need to sacrifice any aspect of your home to create a new space?
Plan with a professional
It’s best to bring your preferred contractor in from the start – ideally, at the planning stage. Don’t wait until you’ve finalized what you need and where before you call an expert, as your entire plan might change once expert input comes in. Also, work with a contractor specialized in the type of construction you want. For example, if you want an additional kitchen or bathroom, a contractor experienced in kitchen & bathroom remodeling is ideal.
Sit down with your chosen contractor and an architect and go through various design ideas best suited for your purpose.
Plan for disruption
You can expect your home to turn into a chaotic space once the construction work starts. Certain parts of your home may not be usable, depending on what type of room you’re adding. So, plan for the disruption. Start by discussing the work schedule with your contractor. This way, you can reorganize your daily activities accordingly. Next, plan for the noise and heavy foot traffic from contractors moving in and out, and make alternative living arrangements if necessary.
Schedule regular inspections
Avoid leaving your contractor throughout the project, as staying away may cause you to miss out on some developments. Be involved as much as possible by inspecting various stages of the construction process. You need to ensure the work progress aligns with what you want. But there’s a thin line between inspecting work progress and getting on your contractor’s nerves. So, decide with your contractor when it’s best to come and inspect.
Landscape the garden
For many properties, a garden area is often a place that is neglected, compared to a lot of the interiors of the home. However, it can also be a great space for updating and adding value to the property overall.
Consider landscaping the garden so that there’s more use that can come of it. Whether it’s leveling out the surface or adding levels to it with decking, it can all add to the property’s worth when it goes onto the market.
While landscaping the garden, it might be worth considering the condition of your home’s exterior. You might spend all that time redesigning your garden, only to find that the state of your home is ruining the upgrade. Start by considering safety issues and foundational problems. From here, you can then consider things like any roof or gutter repair jobs that might need to be completed first. Lastly, you can consider the aesthetics of your home’s exterior and how you can make it blend with your new landscape design. This might be adding color on the brickwork, or replacing windows and doors to achieve a certain style or look.
