Making the decision to add on to your home is a big one. Not only do you have to think about the cost of the actual addition, but you also have to be mindful of the impact it will have on your home’s value and curb appeal. 

Here are eight important tips to keep in mind when planning your home addition:

1) Identify Your Objectives

Before you start planning your home addition, it’s important that you identify your objectives. What do you hope to accomplish with the addition? Do you require more space for your growing family? Are you looking to add value to your home? Answering these questions will help you better plan out your home addition and ensure it meets your needs.

2) Research for Inspiration

Once you know what you want to accomplish with your home addition, it’s time to start researching for inspiration. Look through magazines, browse through websites, and take a look at homes in your neighborhood to get an idea of what you like and don’t like. This will help you know your ideal design and better communicate your vision to your contractor.

3) Arrange the Legal Documents

Before you plan or start construction on your home addition, it’s important that you arrange all of the legal documents to avoid potential problems. Make sure you have the proper permits for your project and check for any zoning regulations that could affect your addition. Once you have everything in order, you’ll be ready to start construction without any delays.

4) Plan and Budget Well

Once you know what you want to accomplish with your home addition and have your legal documents in order, it’s time to start planning and budgeting your project. Begin by creating a list of all the materials you’ll need and the estimated construction costs. Try to factor in the price of hiring a contractor, which can vary depending on their experience and the output quality.

5) Know the Non-Negotiables

As you start to plan your home addition, you’ll have to make a few decisions that are set in stone. These are the non-negotiables or the areas of your project that you absolutely cannot change. For example, if you’re planning on adding a new bathroom, you’ll need to decide how many toilets, sinks, and showers you’ll need and where the bathroom will be located.

6) Hire the Professionals

Once you’ve figured out all the details of your home addition, it’s time to hire professionals. If you’re not confident in your own construction skills, it’s best to hire a contractor to complete the job. If you’re planning on hiring a contractor, be sure to look for someone who is licensed and insured and has experience with your type of home addition.

7) Evaluate the Utilities

Before you start construction on your home addition, you’ll need to evaluate the utilities in your home. If you’re unsure about anything, you should contact a professional to help you make sure everything is properly set up. Once you’re confident that everything is set up correctly, you can start construction on your home addition.

8) Finalize the Design

After you’ve figured out all the details of your home addition, it’s time to finalize the design. This is the time to make sure that everything is exactly the way you want it. Once you’re happy with the design, you can start construction on your home addition.

Conclusion

Now that you finally know how to plan a home addition, it’s time to greenlight the project and get started. Use these tips to plan your home addition and make sure it’s done right to achieve the property of your dreams.

Interested in getting home additions? Image Contracting is Minnesota’s remodeling and construction experts,  roofing, siding, gutters, windows, doors, home additions, commercial buildings, and more in the North Metro Twin Cities Metropolitan area. Get in touch with us today!