Room Additions Can Be As Complex As Building a New Home - Do it Right!
If you are reading this article, you probably live in San Diego and have been touched by the current economic crisis.
You and your family may have a strong desire to move into a new house, but might be faced with financial uncertainty.
After all, you don't want to invest in too much, too soon.
However, sometimes we know it's not the right time for a move, but are also faced with changes to our situation.
For instance, your family may be expanding; you may be expecting a new baby or you might be considering having your mother-in-law move in.
You might be faced with a new opportunity that will allow you to work from home.
Whatever the reason is for your need for more space, a new room addition could be just what the doctor ordered.
Room additions are a great way to freshen up and change the layout of your house.
They are also great ways to increase the square footage and value of your home and make a seemingly ordinary floor plan stand out.
However, if you are considering a room addition it will be important for you to handle it correctly with a professional.
The San Diego area has been reeling from the housing crisis and there is a lot of inventory on the market, because a room addition is such a major undertaking, you will want to make sure that it doesn't turn into a mess that could affect the value of your home negatively.
Any room addition should be handled by a licensed contractor who has the experience and knowledge to do what you require.
They should have a background in architecture and appropriate ways to make the most of your current structure while also keeping you and your family safe.
There is great skill required when building onto an existing structure; many times it is more difficult than building a house from scratch.
Think of it, when you build a new home, you don't have to live there, you are not in the building and expected to go about your day or manage your family.
Also, when you build a house there is nothing to match up; all of the materials that go into new construction are new.
However, when you build a room addition onto your house, you first have to match up all the materials to make sure you are going to have an area that is aesthetically pleasing.
On top of that, you are going to have workers around you and your family for the length of the project.
This will mean noise, dust and distractions.
Therefore, it is an absolute requirement you do business with a professional contractor who can deliver what they say and stick to deadlines so your life can return to normal as soon as possible.
Then interviewing contractors, it will be important for you to not only ask for their business license and proof of insurance, but also to ask for a list of references and a portfolio of finished work.
You need to make sure they can deliver what they are promising.
In addition, there are other factors to consider when adding an addition onto your house.
First, you need to figure out what you can afford.
Establish a budget and stick to it.
It is understandable that you want to get the most for your money, especially since the economy is in flux, but the great thing about considering this project now is that interest rates are very low.
You will also need to visit the San Diego zoning office with several pictures of your house to make sure your proposed addition will be allowed on your lot.
The zoning office will be able to tell you what you will be able to put on your property or will inform you on how to appeal to the zoning board if you require an area that is bigger that what is permitted.
Any type of home improvement can be an undertaking.
However, when you do your research and make sure you thoroughly understand the steps to take and what should be expected, you will enjoy your new room addition once it is complete.
You and your family may have a strong desire to move into a new house, but might be faced with financial uncertainty.
After all, you don't want to invest in too much, too soon.
However, sometimes we know it's not the right time for a move, but are also faced with changes to our situation.
For instance, your family may be expanding; you may be expecting a new baby or you might be considering having your mother-in-law move in.
You might be faced with a new opportunity that will allow you to work from home.
Whatever the reason is for your need for more space, a new room addition could be just what the doctor ordered.
Room additions are a great way to freshen up and change the layout of your house.
They are also great ways to increase the square footage and value of your home and make a seemingly ordinary floor plan stand out.
However, if you are considering a room addition it will be important for you to handle it correctly with a professional.
The San Diego area has been reeling from the housing crisis and there is a lot of inventory on the market, because a room addition is such a major undertaking, you will want to make sure that it doesn't turn into a mess that could affect the value of your home negatively.
Any room addition should be handled by a licensed contractor who has the experience and knowledge to do what you require.
They should have a background in architecture and appropriate ways to make the most of your current structure while also keeping you and your family safe.
There is great skill required when building onto an existing structure; many times it is more difficult than building a house from scratch.
Think of it, when you build a new home, you don't have to live there, you are not in the building and expected to go about your day or manage your family.
Also, when you build a house there is nothing to match up; all of the materials that go into new construction are new.
However, when you build a room addition onto your house, you first have to match up all the materials to make sure you are going to have an area that is aesthetically pleasing.
On top of that, you are going to have workers around you and your family for the length of the project.
This will mean noise, dust and distractions.
Therefore, it is an absolute requirement you do business with a professional contractor who can deliver what they say and stick to deadlines so your life can return to normal as soon as possible.
Then interviewing contractors, it will be important for you to not only ask for their business license and proof of insurance, but also to ask for a list of references and a portfolio of finished work.
You need to make sure they can deliver what they are promising.
In addition, there are other factors to consider when adding an addition onto your house.
First, you need to figure out what you can afford.
Establish a budget and stick to it.
It is understandable that you want to get the most for your money, especially since the economy is in flux, but the great thing about considering this project now is that interest rates are very low.
You will also need to visit the San Diego zoning office with several pictures of your house to make sure your proposed addition will be allowed on your lot.
The zoning office will be able to tell you what you will be able to put on your property or will inform you on how to appeal to the zoning board if you require an area that is bigger that what is permitted.
Any type of home improvement can be an undertaking.
However, when you do your research and make sure you thoroughly understand the steps to take and what should be expected, you will enjoy your new room addition once it is complete.
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