Home Additions: Need more living space?

Published by: Paul Batchie
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

Most of us when we started out bought as much house as we could afford and were thrilled to finally own our first home. But a lot of families find that time has a way of increasing their housing needs. Most typically that need imposes itself rather insistently when a child comes along, or when kids reach the age when they need separate rooms. But other reasons for wanting more space can vary from Mom moving in, to needing a larger kitchen, to wanting a specialty area such as a garage, workshop or an entertainment room.

If you need more room, the first step in finding the way forward is to think carefully about what your needs really are. Separate needs from wants. Prioritize, because each item will have a price tag, and those price tags can add up quickly. If like most of us you have to work within a budget, prioritizing will give you a framework to decide whether certain items are worth their cost.
A major decision that many will have to make is whether to add on to the existing house or to move to another house (either built to your specs or already built), one that either already has more of the desired new features or at least has more potential for adding on those desired features.

This is where lifestyle factors weigh in. How much do you value your present location? Your neighbors? (Count yourself blessed if you have good neighbors, because bad ones can present a big downside, even when moving to a "better" neighborhood.) How disruptive to your kids would it be to move - perhaps even to a different school system? And which would be worse – to outright move or to put up with messy remodeling? The answer to that will depend on your project and your family.

Be sure to factor in the costs of selling, buying and moving. These include real estate commissions, legal fees, and mover's charges.

After you have considered lifestyle factors and peripheral costs, if the add-on idea is still alive then the next step is to call in someone to advise you on feasibility and costs. The most direct way to accomplish this is to consult with a registered architect. Find out ahead of time if there will be a fee for the architect to come out and spend some time discussing your situation.

Another way to access the feasibility of adding on is to call in a remodeling contractor. Usually they won't charge to come out and take a look, and they can offer practical advice and some rough ideas about costs. Many contractors have working relationships with architects, and some even have their own architects on staff, so they can help you get the process started.

If you're not getting your questions answered don’t hesitate to call in another architect or contractor. As with any discipline, there are vast differences among practitioners. If you do add on, you're going to be living with this guy's work for a long time. Make sure you have someone you feel comfortable with.

Both adding on and moving are big decisions for any family to make, and there's no blanket formula that will fit every situation. But if you take the time to carefully analyze your needs and then find the right people to clarify your options, there is no reason to fear a process that can immensely improve your family's quality of life.

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