| Home additions can significantly increase the quality | | | | new space will be used and incorporated into your |
| of a person's lifestyle by providing them with more | | | | existing home. Also keep in mind how the addition will |
| living space as well as increasing your home's value. | | | | look from the outside; an oversized addition may |
| Of course, more space would mean convenience. | | | | crowd a smaller lot. |
| Imagine having a bigger area to entertain guests or | | | | Some neighborhoods may also have neighborhood |
| simply spend time with your family! Home additions | | | | guidelines regarding exterior changes to your home. |
| can be done in every room or place in the house. | | | | You may want to hire a designer or an architect to |
| When it comes to the different possibilities, you are | | | | assist with this step of this process. They can help |
| only truly limited by your budget and your imagination! | | | | you maximize the use of your space as well as |
| What are some of the basic steps for an addition to | | | | create eye-catching designs that would be |
| your home? The first thing to consider is the time | | | | economical to your home. I highly encourage |
| frame of the home addition project. Of course, you | | | | everyone to consider your family needs today and |
| want to complete the home addition project in the | | | | into the future. Your family's needs may be different |
| shortest amount of time possible. However, do not | | | | within a few years and this could influence your |
| rush things. A rushed project could potentially cost | | | | home addition plans. |
| you more money in the end and may not provide | | | | A very important step in the home addition process |
| you the results you were hoping for. Take things | | | | is establishing a budget. Even the most detailed |
| slowly and plan carefully in order to achieve the look | | | | oriented home addition projects will likely go over |
| that you desire. | | | | budget. There are always incidental costs that are |
| Next, you need to determine the property lines of | | | | overlooked and not accounted for in the original |
| your home. Knowing where your property line begins | | | | budget. Incorporate a "slush fund" in your budget to |
| and ends helps to develop a plot properly. This plot | | | | help offset those unaccounted for costs that |
| would include your home, the location of various | | | | inevitably arise during the home addition project. |
| home utilities and your landscaping. You should also | | | | Lastly, hire a team of professionals to get your home |
| start familiarizing yourself with the different building | | | | addition project off to the right start! Make sure you |
| codes, as there are certain codes that specifically | | | | hire professionals who are qualified, licensed, and |
| apply to home improvement projects. You must be | | | | properly insured. Be certain that the contractor and |
| aware of state and city codes in order to avoid any | | | | other professionals you hire understand what you |
| troubles or hassles along the way. | | | | want for your home addition and are aware of your |
| The next step for an addition would be to develop | | | | budget. You also want to be certain that you have |
| your home addition design. It is imperative that you | | | | an open line of communication with your contractor |
| develop a design that would complement your | | | | so there are no surprises in the end. Be sure to have |
| current floor plan. Review the structure and the floor | | | | a signed, written contract between you and your |
| plan of your home and consider how the addition will | | | | contractor that outlines the work to be completed. |
| change the context of your home. Consider how the | | | | |