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Remember those days when your home was the perfect size? When there was enough room for everyone? Families can quickly outgrow homes that were once—as Goldilocks would say—just right. One child can grow into four, and sometimes family emergencies may mean an elderly relative moves in. Or perhaps you’re just longing for something new. Whatever the reason you’d like to expand your home, it’s important to choose the right home additions contractor and weigh the pros and cons of additions. Here is some information that can help you choose whether an addition is right for you: 

What to Consider Before Adding an Addition 

Cost of an Addition 

Additions are costly projects. Home additions can cost between $22,500 to $74,000 in 2022, according to HomeGuide. If you have the funds and you plan to live in your house for many years to come, an addition can make your remaining time there more enjoyable—especially if your family is large. However, you should consider the decision to add an addition carefully and minimize costs as much as possible.

Types of Additions 

There are two types of additions: vertical and horizontal. Basically, you can build up or out. Which you choose depends on your goals. Building outward will take up property space, so if your goal is to retain your yard space, a vertical addition may be best. However, a vertical addition often requires tearing up your walls and ceiling to make room for new electrical and plumbing lines. Outward additions require less fuss in that regard, making for a better choice if you don’t want to go through such a process. 

Is There a Cheaper Way to Get Your Desired Results? 

Sometimes there’s a cheaper alternative to get more space other than adding an addition. For instance, do you have an unfinished basement or attic you can remodel? Can you rearrange the furniture in your existing space to create a more airy, open feel? If so, those choices may be less expensive, less time-consuming, and less complicated. 

Pros and Cons of a House Addition

As with anything, building an addition comes with pros and cons. Here are some pros of building an addition: 

A House Addition Can Make Your Home Feel More Like Yours

You probably didn’t have a say in what you wanted your house to look like when it was first built. Perhaps you would have chosen stone instead of brick or a patio rather than a back porch; maybe you’ve always dreamed of French windows for your dining room but you got a thick, ugly door. These little things can make a home feel less like yours. Someone has left pieces of themselves behind, things they liked that you don’t. Part of it still feels like theirs. What a frustrating feeling! 

With an addition, you get to choose exactly what you want: the layout, the size, everything. Adding onto your house can make it feel truly yours. You can get those French doors you wanted and add finishing touches that the previous owner left out. At last, your space is your space! 

An Addition May Help Resale Value 

According to HomeAdvisor, those who build a two-story addition could possibly recover 65% of the costs when they sell their home. That makes an addition a potentially wise investment. Not only will the extra space make living there better, but it may also be cost-effective! 

Unfortunately, however, cons exist when adding an addition too. Here are some cons of building an addition: 

Resale Value Isn’t Guaranteed

Just because adding an addition has a possibility of increasing resale value doesn’t mean it will. In fact, adding an addition may do the opposite. When you expand your home, it may cause heating and air conditioning costs to rise, which decreases the ROI (return on investment) of the home expansion. Additionally, the property tax may increase as well. If you aren’t going to live in your home for more than a few years after adding an addition, you’ll likely lose money rather than save. 

Adding an Addition Can be Stressful 

While an addition might seem exciting at first, the process can quickly become stressful. You’ll have to deal with workers every day, cope with noise and debris, and lose some of your privacy. Even if you like your addition builder, you probably won’t like seeing the company’s team day after day. The end result may be worth it, but getting there won’t be easy. 

The bare, wooden bones of an addition built by a home addition contractor

Signs of a Good Home Additions Contractor 

It’s important to choose the right contractor for the job. You want someone who is professional, knowledgable, and caring. Here are some qualities you should look for in an addition builder: 

Transparency 

Because an addition is a serious and expensive undertaking, you’ll want a contractor who is honest and trustworthy. If you feel an addition builder you’re considering seems evasive and avoid questions, this is a bad sign. The best contractors will be transparent about the costs and building process. 

Passion for Their Work 

Someone who loves what they do is likely to do a better job than someone who doesn’t. If your home additions contractor seems enthusiastic about your project, that’s a good sign. Plus, it’ll be more enjoyable to deal with someone who shows up to work smiling rather than scowling day after day. 

The Tendency to Collect Data 

If a contractor takes a lot of measurements to determine how to best serve you, it’s a sign of good technical thinking. Someone who is focused on data collection will ensure your addition comes out exactly right. On the other hand, someone who eyeballs everything and relies on their gut may create noticeable flaws in the final product. 

Lots of Great Reviews  

Relying on others’ experiences is a great way to know if you should choose a particular addition builder. Most contractors put on a face online and when first meeting in person, trying to place themselves in the best possible light. Yet you may find the mask falls away once work actually begins. Instead of trusting first impressions and builders’ websites, rely on the opinions of other homeowners who have used their services. That’s usually a better gauge of whether you should hire them or not. Ideally, you should look up reviews that are not on the contractor’s website to make sure you’re seeing raw, honest posts. HomeAdvisor, Angi, Google, and Yelp are all good options for review websites. 

Up-to-Date on Building Trends 

Industries change all the time. Make sure your addition builder knows the latest innovations in products, materials, and building techniques. If not, there is always a better home addition contractor out there who can help you. 

We Can Build Your Dream Addition! 

BetterBuilt Builder’s team of professionals is ready to help you create a wonderful addition. We know an addition is an overwhelming but exciting process, and we will make building one as easy as possible to keep you comfortable and happy during construction. Contact us today for a free quote!