| "> | | | | 4) To add an entertainment center, billiards room, |
| Are you thinking of building a home addition? Does | | | | hobby/exercise room: These popular add-ons can |
| today's economy have you worried? A home | | | | really make a home fun. As going out for recreation |
| expansion can be very involved with decisions about | | | | becomes more expensive, having fun at home |
| home addition costs, home addition floor plans, building | | | | becomes more attractive. |
| materials, and financing. | | | | 5) Create a rental unit for income: It's important to |
| It's not something you go into lightly. | | | | comply with local codes regarding number of units on |
| Your Home Addition's Floor Plans: Equity, Usefulness, | | | | the property and the number of families that can |
| or Both? | | | | legally live there. Added and ongoing income can be |
| The best home additions provide increased value for | | | | very attractive. |
| your home while at the same time increase the | | | | 6) Creating private but accessible living quarters for |
| home's livability. Start first by deciding all the things you | | | | aging parents/in-laws: This is a growing need. Again, |
| really want and need. Then prioritize that list and | | | | codes can be restrictive but the personal value of this |
| narrow it down. You may be able to include most of | | | | expansion can be considerable. |
| what you want but your budget will be a determining | | | | 7) Building a home addition for a home business: Often, |
| factor. | | | | homes need more space for a home business and |
| Is it useful to you? Does it fit into the style of your | | | | home businesses can benefit from separate access |
| home and the style of the neighborhood? Are there | | | | that doesn't require going through the home. Proper |
| homes in your neighborhood that are now of greater | | | | design goes a long way towards making this work |
| value than yours? This is a good sign that you can | | | | well. |
| create value by adding on. | | | | 8) Expanding popular living spaces like Great Rooms, |
| Stick With the Most Popular Home Addition Projects | | | | Family Rooms, & Dining Rooms: Very often these |
| Here is a list of the most popular projects for home | | | | cannot be achieved through a simple remodel. Extra |
| additions. If your personal desires and needs match | | | | square footage is needed. |
| with one or more of these then chances are good | | | | 9) Adding a bathroom: A very popular home addition. It |
| that your project would be a go. And, if you're planning | | | | is most common when a master bedroom has no |
| to stay in the home a while, there is no reason why | | | | master bath or when a family grows too big for the |
| now would not be a great time to move forward with | | | | number of bathrooms currently in the home. |
| it. | | | | 10) Adding a laundry room: Older and smaller homes |
| In no particular order: | | | | often had no separate laundry rooms. For this reason, |
| 1) You simply need more space: A growing family, | | | | laundry room additions have become quite popular. |
| more "things", more visitors ... and many other reasons | | | | 11) Sunrooms, screened porches, and green houses: |
| create the need for more space. This is the most | | | | Outdoor living is in. These will likely become more and |
| popular reason to add on. | | | | more popular in coming years as well. |
| 2) To build more equity in the home: This could be | | | | Start With a Home Building Coach. |
| considered a by-product of all the other reasons for a | | | | Home additions represent a major home improvement. |
| home addition. But, many people add on just for the | | | | This requires professional help. You can start with an |
| potential to create equity ... especially if they're in the | | | | architect, General Contractor, or a Home Building |
| smallest home in the neighborhood. | | | | Coach. I prefer a home building coach. Either way, get |
| 3) To gain more storage space: Storage seems to be | | | | professional help from the start. |
| one of the most sought after features of a home. | | | | As always, the most beneficial advice I can give is to |
| Certainly, a home with inadequate storage space is a | | | | keep informed, improve your knowledge, seek out |
| liability. Additions of a garage and RV and boat | | | | those professionals and ask a ton of questions. |
| shelters are included in this. | | | | |