Your home is your castle and sometimes you want to make that castle a little bit bigger. The best way to do that is by adding a home extension. With a home extension, you can expand the house and often make it look better. A good home extension can transform a home into something new and exciting.
If a home extension is a great investment that can be well worth the time and money. That being said do not immediately go out and hire a renovation builder and get it built without properly planning the project. Here are 5 things to consider before constructing a new home extension.
1. Pricing
Price matters and before you do anything you need to set a budget. A budget is going to pivotal in deciding what type of home extension you can afford. Whether it be the quality of the extension or the sheer size of it, the price is going to affect all of it. Set a budget and then work from there on how you want to proceed.
When creating a budget there many things to consider. From material costs, labor costs, and even paperwork costs, there is a multitude of line items that need to be factored into the final budget. You do not want to be surprised when these costs arise. Do the research and now what you are getting into while you prepare a budget.
Once a budget is set the next thing to do is allocate that budget. To do this, you must find different estimates from different contractors. While pricing is important when deciding the right contractor do not let that be the sole factor in the decision. A quality contractor goes a long way regardless of the price.
Quality contractors have foolproof credentials and years of experience with home extensions. They have a reliable basis for the quotes they provide to their clients. For instance, the cost for a small extension may vary, depending if the design is simple or complex. A small extension can maximize small exterior space utilization, connecting two areas or buildings of the property, or extending outwards to add living room space.
Aside from quality contractors, quality home extensions must carefully consider several factors, including material quality. Materials for home extensions may include steel trusses, solid wood, and glass, with varying designs and price options.
Speaking of quality, sometimes it is best to invest in higher quality materials even if that sacrifices the size of the extension. Price is important, but you may very well end up paying more in the long run in maintenance costs if the extension is built out of cheap materials. Make sure you build a home extension that is built to last.
2. Contractor
The contractor is going to be doing the bulk of the work assuming you do not have a construction background, so hiring the right guy for the job is incredibly important. There many things to consider when hiring a contractor so here are a few.
Reputation is a factor that needs to be checked before dealing with a contractor. A highly reputable contractor with good reviews is almost always a safe bet. That being said make sure you carefully read the written reviews to get a clear picture of the type of contractor that you will be working with.
Estimates should be asked before signing anything. Go around and make sure you are not getting ripped off by a contractor who is quoting you at an absurd rate. Make sure you are getting a good price for the job. This does not mean that you should go for the cheapest price as that may sacrifice quality.
Consider working with an insured and bonded home extension contractor. In this way, you can avoid dealing with legal liabilities because a worker got injured while installing a glass window pane or a similar incident. Find out if your prospective contractor has worker’s compensation and liability insurance for your peace of mind and protection.
A knowledgeable and experienced contractor is a good contractor. A contractor that knows what they are doing can provide quality service and assistance throughout the entire process. They will be able to guide through the planning process and into the building process making sure you get what you want. Always vet your contractor before hiring.
3. Design
A great home deserves a great home extension. A beautiful home extension starts with a well thought out design. You generally want something that fits within the design of your main home, but adding something unique is not unheard of. Regardless, design matters so make sure you properly design an extension that you can proud of.
Whether it be a new bathroom or bedroom the design of the new home extension can be considered as one of the most fun things in the entire process. So enjoy the process and be creative. Look at various different designs and search for inspiration to truly find the perfect design for your new home extension.
Seek expert advice from an interior designer or your contractor. An increasingly popular option is to hire a rendering company to do the design. What is rendering? It’s a 3D visual of the design and is often more accurate than 2D designs. Your family and friends may also have amazing ideas you might want to consider. Visiting the residential homes of some people you know with recently built home extensions is also a good idea to stay updated with the trends.
4. Value
Your home is an asset and you want that asset to grow and become more valuable. When building a home extension it is good to know that it can be a solid return on investment that adds value to the home. A properly planned out home extension can pay for itself and then some if executed right.
The value-added will be dependent on the type of extension you wish to add. An extra bedroom can add up to $50,000 while an extra bathroom can add up to $20,000. A good home extension is a good investment. Make sure to factor that in when designing and planning your next home extension.
5. Legality
There are a lot of rules and regulations for every local area and you need to make sure that you are properly following those restrictions. This can come in many different shapes and sizes. From making sure to do the proper paperwork when constructing the home extension to following residential building laws.
You do not want to be slapped with legal fines or have to stop building halfway through. A good contractor should be able to walk you through the legal process and make sure you are not violating any laws, but it is always good to check your local residential building codes. Be smart in the planning of your home extension.
Home is Where the Heart Is
A home extension makes that heart a little bit bigger and can do so much for the home. It can bring new life into it and new value-added to it. Do not underestimate the power of a home extension. A home extension is a great decision for any homeowner, but it can be a perilous process if you are ill-informed and not properly prepared.
Your home extension is something you should enjoy from start to finish. With these simple considerations, you can do just that. A home extension is a great thing to add to any house so start planning yours today.
