Planning new additions to a home, even a single room, requires long-term considerations and planning. You want the design to be as perfect as possible to ensure you don’t have any “wish we would haves” once the project is complete.
6 Considerations For Perfect Home Additions
Here are six important considerations as you choose which type of new additions make the most sense for your home and the lot.
1. Does it make sense for your lot size?
Property in Volusia county ranges from an acre+ to lots that are double the size of the house. If you have a smaller lot, be mindful before moving forward with a home addition. People are drawn to our year-round climate, and the pandemic taught us all the importance of having comfortable living/work/school spaces.
Multi-purpose outdoor spaces or an “indoor/outdoor” lifestyle are top on home design wish lists for current home buyers. If you absolutely need another bedroom, that’s one thing. If, however, you’re interested in more “living space,” you may prefer thinking in terms of an exceptional outdoor living space that keeps occupants comfortable, digitally connected, and entertained all year round.
2. What’s the ROI?
Some home additions add more value or a return on investment than others. Current data tells us the home additions with the highest value are:
- Accessible dwelling units (ADUs), also called granny or in-law units
- Large decks and expanded living space (right back to #1)
- Kitchen renovations
For example, let’s say you’re interested in adding a “man cave” or an extra guest bedroom. It might be wise to see if an ADU version of that idea makes more sense. The new space serves the immediate purpose and offers future benefits, such as vacation/permanent rental revenue or supporting aging family members when needed. So a little extra budgeting today could yield great rewards (and a significantly higher future sales price) later.
Of course, the best new additions are the ones that add value to your life, not necessarily those that improve a home’s future sticker price. That said, considering how an addition affects future home value makes sense if you’ll be moving in the next ten years or so.
3. Do you need extra storage?
You’d be surprised how many clients come to us thinking they need to add an extra bedroom, den, or craft space – only to realize through initial design conversations that what they’re really after is extra storage.
Again, if your lot accommodates it and you need an extra bedroom, by all means, you should add one. However, if you’re desperate for a bit more storage space or room to spread out, you may only need general remodeling of specific spaces to increase their storage capacity and functionality.
4. Are you familiar with the local building codes?
A complete remodel or new additions must comply with local building codes. Volusia County and DeLand building officials require permitting for almost every new addition, renovation, or remodel.
This is not a place for DIYers to save money. Failure to comply with local codes puts you at risk for penalties/fines from the local building departments and can also hurt you down the road when you want to sell the home.
5. Have you included plans for a full closet?
A room is not legally considered a bedroom without a full closet. If you’re adding an entertainment room or den, make room for closet space. The difference in sales price between a three and four-bedroom home is tens of thousands of dollars, so you’ll make that money back when it’s time to sell your home.
6. Integrate it into your existing home.
A home addition should look and feel like a natural extension of the existing home. This makes sense aesthetically, but it also makes sense when it comes to budgeting and total project costs.
Things to think about in this category include:
- Integrating existing electrical and plumbing work. Or, if you’re planning to re-design a layout, be prepared for a hike in the baseline budget.
- Will the extra kitchen space or bathroom alter water pressure?
- Ensuring the electrical panel accommodates increased power loads.
- Maintaining consistency in the exterior wall and roofing materials.
- Will your current HVAC system accommodate home comfort and humidity with the added square footage?
- Have you factored in structural support (structural beams are costly)
Sometimes the “simple” addition of a new bedroom or bathroom isn’t as simple as you might think due to all the different facets and layers involved.
Schedule A New Addition Design-Build Consultation
The sooner you schedule design-build consultations, the better. Meeting with a few different local, licensed builders yields critical information to guide your decision-making and budgeting. Plus, you’ll know which construction firm is the best fit for your project. Contact Fogle Constructors to get started.
