We’re noticing an increase in requests for home additions, in addition to remodels. The increased need and desire to work-from-home, as well as the increased number of baby boomers opting to live in multi-generational homes rather than assisted living facilities, means Volusia County homeowners are re-envisioning their living spaces.

Meeting with a local, licensed design-build construction firm is the best way to envision your current home footprint with the eye of a professional to guide your future dreams.

Top 3 New Additions for Comfort and Resale Value

As with any home renovation or addition, it is wise to balance present moment, personal functionality with future resale value. You want to design home spaces that accommodate your needs and style preferences while also looking ahead to what prospective home buyers are looking for when house hunting in your neighborhood.

With those two considerations in mind, here are three of the most common home additions that optimize your DeLand area home’s living spaces and comfort – while simultaneously adding home appeal and value.

1. Accessory Dwelling Unit (aka “In-Law Unit”)

First on the list of new additions is an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your property. Also called “granny” or “in-law units,” ADUs are fully-contained spaces that include a bedroom area, living room, kitchen(ette), and bathroom. They may also have a laundry room and a small patio or deck of their own. 

According to Travelers Insurance, well-built ADUs can increase property values by as much as 20% to 30%, giving them the #1 spot on our list. 

There are several ways an ADU adds value to your home:

• Allows seniors to age-in-place near family. Many families are drawn to the idea of multi-generational living as a way to save on caregiving costs and enjoy loved ones close by, without the stringent visitation (or no visitation) restrictions put into place during pandemic situations. In addition, having your parents or in-laws living onsite means you can support loved ones as they age in place, bringing professional caregivers in as needed. On the flip side, having an ADU also means you have a cottage to move into if you want to rent out the main house and have a smaller space to call “home” as you travel the world during retirement.
• More quality time with family and friends. The wise Benjamin Franklin is quoted as saying, “Guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” We can all resonate with that statement, but it’s a whole different story when guests have their own space to occupy. Having a guest house space makes it easier to enjoy longer-term quality time with visiting family and friends. 
• Room for young adults to spread their wings. Many families find that ADUs help support young adults who want a space for themselves but aren’t quite ready to leave home. Giving independent children a separate space to call their own is an excellent way to provide a bit more autonomy without forking out more money on rent and other living expenses. 
• Extra rental income. Finally, many of our clients build ADUs for rental income now or in the future. Rents continue to go up in Volusia County, which means many homeowners can rent a one-bedroom ADU to offset their own mortgage payments, fund children’s college tuitions, and pad the retirement coffers.

Don’t have the space to add a bonafide ADU to your home? Consider converting an attic, garage, or basement space with the same idea in mind.

Just remember: always work with a licensed contractor to ensure your in-law unit complies with current building codes. Fines and penalties for building an illegal dwelling are steep and jeopardize a well-planned investment.

2. A deck and expanded outdoor living space

Florida is known for its pleasant indoor/outdoor lifestyle, which deserves an accommodating outdoor design. Research shows that you can recover between 75% to upwards of 80% of your investment on a new wood or composite deck via the uptick in resale value.

In our climate, a well-built deck or patio space, complete with comfortable sitting areas, an outdoor kitchen, water and fire features, and beautiful planters, make it possible to “live outside” virtually all year round. 

Things to consider when designing a new outdoor space include:

• Permanent vs. transient features. Larger yards are more forgiving of permanent structures and hardscape design. If you have a small- to medium-sized area, keep things more transient so they can be shuffled around as needed. The ability to move BBQs, chairs, tables, lounges, etc., provides more flexibility with how the space is used.
• Colors and texture. As with interior design, we encourage you to think of the design’s colors and texture. Use different combinations of wood, stone, and metal. For example, patio chair cushions are easily changed from season to season to bring in new bursts of color, and decorative outdoor carpets anchor furniture arrangements.
• Smart landscape choices. Work with a local nursery professional or landscape designer to plant trees, shrubs, and plants that offer year-round color via foliage and blooms. They’ll also help you select plant varieties that accommodate soil conditions, privacy screening, or add depth and dimension to the space.
• Lighting design. We’ll help you choose lighting options that provide task lighting, safety, and security features, as well as ambiance.

3) Kitchen renovation

The kitchen is the heart of most homes, so it’s no surprise that kitchen remodels still make the list of desirable new additions that also boast a decent ROI.

Revamping kitchen countertops and sinks, cabinets, and energy-efficient appliances and lighting go a long way towards increasing kitchen appeal and function. Additional new additions to consider are:

• Baking station
• Home office center
• Kids’ homework station
• Mixing contemporary and rustic/antique finishes for timeless appeal
• Glass partitions to support open-floor plan feel while mitigating the transfer of kitchen noise and smells

Today’s kitchen renovations often include structural expansions or additions to accommodate unique needs in the open-concept living space trends. However, do keep in mind that the more deluxe the kitchen remodel, the less you’ll recoup via investment returns. For example, bankrate.com cites that a modest kitchen remodel (in the $26,000 ballpark) recoups more than 70% of the money spent on the project. Spending much more than that on a kitchen remodel means your kitchen is designed to your specific needs, but you may not recover as much of the initial expense when it’s time to sell.

Again, working with a local contractor who handles design/build projects is the best way to make sure your ideal designs work with the home’s current structural considerations. Our team is happy to help you determine which design ideas or features offer the best ROI. 

Are you ready to embrace 2022 with new additions or renovation plans? Then, schedule an appointment with Fogle Constructors. We love to take the home projects you have in mind, translate them onto paper, and make them a reality.