Building a house addition is one of the best ways to increase your home’s overall square footage or create usable space with your unique design and personality. It can also be an expensive endeavor, especially if you’re adding multiple stories. Before you get too far in the planning process, let’s look at some pros and cons of adding onto your home. Knowing what to expect along the way can help reduce stress, save you money, and help ensure that the new space you end up with is exactly what you envisioned.
Pros of Building a House Addition
1. You get to design the house addition from the ground up.
Many home remodeling projects involve structural or cosmetic changes to a secondhand house – one you’ve purchased from a previous owner. These projects can help make the house truly feel like your own but it’s never quite the same as planning something from scratch!
Designing and building a house addition means you get to choose exactly what goes into it and what doesn’t. Other than making sure it fits well with the rest of your home in terms of architecture and style, the sky’s the limit! Working with a professional designer is a great way to ensure you incorporate your own style and design choices while also blending the addition into your existing home.
2. You can add significant square footage to your home.
Many people are familiar with room additions – adding a single room to your home to create additional space or serve a specific purpose. A house addition, however, includes multiple rooms, significantly increasing the amount of square footage possible. During the planning phase, be sure to evaluate exactly how you want to use this additional space so you’ll get the most out of it.
3. There’s a significant potential return on investment.
Creating additional square footage might meet your family’s needs but also add a great deal of value to your home. Depending on the real estate market in your area at the time you want to sell, a house addition can make your home more appealing to potential buyers and even increase the price you’re able to ask for it.
It’s also typically more cost effective to add onto your home versus selling your existing home and then building the same size house plus the size of your house addition. You’ll also get to enjoy the same neighborhood and forgo the financial and emotional stress of moving.
Cons of Building a House Addition
1. There are direct and indirect costs associated with a house addition.
Obviously, adding multiple rooms to your house comes with a significant price tag attached. You will likely need a building permit and engineered plans as well as a designer, master builder, and other tradespeople such as plumbers and electricians. In addition to the professionals who do the work, there will be material costs for both the interior and exterior of the addition. All of these can and should be spelled out as accurately as possible within your remodeling budget before building begins.
Other costs associated with your house addition may not be immediately apparent. But they will certainly come to light after the work is done and you’re enjoying your new space. Remember to consider these future costs as you plan an addition that’s affordable for you:
- Increased property taxes
- Additional heating and cooling costs
- Higher cleaning costs (and more work!)
- More square footage to repair and maintain
All of these costs may absolutely be worth it to get the space you want or need. Just remember that you may not always fully recoup them if you sell your home later.
2. You’ll have less usable yard space.
Upward expansions to your home can fit within the existing footprint of the home on your property. When your house addition involves horizontal expansion, however, be prepared to lose some yard space. This may be no issue at all if you live on a sizable lot. If you live on a small urban or suburban parcel, however, the loss of usable property could have a bigger impact.
This is an important factor to consider before you start building your house addition. Will the added space from the addition be more valuable than the outdoor space you’re giving up? If so, that’s great! If it’s not, however, additional planning and design may be required until you achieve the ultimate solution that meets your family’s needs.
3. A house addition requires time, planning, and may interrupt privacy.
Making simple modifications to your master bathroom or upgrading your entryway are remodeling projects that could last a few weeks. Building a house addition, however, could take months or even longer, depending on the size and scope of work.
During this time, builders and other tradespeople will be working inside and outside your home multiple days per week. This can affect your family’s privacy and daily activities. Advance planning, however, can make a significant difference and help reduce the inconvenience you feel while making your house addition dreams come true.
Professional Remodeling in Orange County
At Sea Pointe Design & Remodel, we’ve been meeting the home remodeling needs of Orange County residents for over 35 years. From whole home remodels and room additions to kitchen remodels, bathroom makeovers, and more, our amazing design/build team is able to handle remodeling projects large and small. Our building professionals are fully committed to your satisfaction and we take pride in every remodeling project we complete.
Before you start planning your own house addition, browse through our online portfolio of completed projects. Or, if you need additional guidance or inspiration, register for one of our upcoming remodeling webinars. Our design experts will walk you through the complexities of home remodeling so you avoid major mistakes and end up with a space you truly love.
When you’re ready to start planning your own remodel, simply give us a call at (949) 861-3400 or fill out the form below to schedule your complimentary design consultation.