There are lots of reasons that homeowners consider room additions. Perhaps they love their house or their neighborhood but don’t have enough space for a growing family. Perhaps they are hoping to rent out part of the home or to welcome aging relatives who need a place to live. Whatever your reason for considering room additions, it is important to consult with a qualified professional contractor about your project to make sure that the final result is up to code. Room additions that are not built properly can cause your home to fail an inspection or decrease in value if you decide to sell it in the future.
Any planned room additions should address your current needs and also how they will affect the resale value of your home. If you are planning on staying in your home for five or more years, the benefit to your lifestyle is probably the primary concern. If you are planning on selling your home in the next five years or less, room additions should only be completed if they will help sell your home. Most room additions will be subject to local codes and laws and may require building permits to complete properly.
There are several common and popular room additions that add value to consider:
- Full additions: Get the square footage you need and any additional rooms you want.
- Sunrooms or 4-season rooms: Enjoy the perfect combination of the indoors and outdoors.
- Room conversions: Take unused space in an attic, basement or garage and make usable rooms.
- Master Suites: If your home doesn’t include a proper master suite, many buyers now expect this feature.
If you need more space in a small kitchen (or other room), you may consider a bump out instead of a full addition. This smaller adjustment gives you a bit more space without a dramatic change to your home. Adding a bathroom to your home is almost always a great investment when it comes to resale value.