Categories: Blog

Whether your family’s expanding, you’re feeling a little cramped in your space, or you just want to create the feature that turns your current house into your dream home, adding on to your current structure is a cost-effective way to get more space without the hassle of moving.

Purchasing a new home and packing up all your possessions isn’t always feasible when it means moving school districts or lengthening your commute. Skilled builders can give your home a whole new look and feel with a project as simple as a bay window expansion or as complex as a full gut and refinish of the property. It’s even possible to create a multi-room new wing, or add an entire floor for the additional space your family needs.

There are three general types of home additions, according to Remodeling Magazine’s annual Cost-To-Value Report:

1. Seasonal Additions

This category includes items such as decks, sunrooms and pool areas. While these can be pricey, the added curb value and quality of living that they add make these features a worthy investment. Many of these projects are DIY-friendly, but custom home builders can offer a huge variety of ideas to take it to the next level. Additionally, they can also add value and aesthetic appeal to your home. Composite decks, for example, can cost around $10,000, but offer a $7,000 increase in your home’s selling price, plus unquantifiable curb appeal for prospective buyers.

2. Single-Room Additions

Kids fighting over whose turn it is for the first shower? Need extra storage space for that new woodworking hobby? Never fear: single-room additions are a popular and versatile option. Just make sure to keep an eye out for your home’s building codes: since this option changes the actual blueprint of your home, you may need approval before you begin construction.

3. Second Stories and Outbuildings

On the grander side of the renovation options, large-scale space additions like adding a garage or second story can mean big payoffs for your home’s salability — not to mention your storage options. If your home is in an area where these features are not common, a second story will make for an attractive feature to potential buyers.

There you have it: an array of home additions to suit every need and budget. Whether it’s storage or living space you’re after, outdoors or indoors, home additions make a great and cost-effective alternative to finding a whole new structure. With the help of friendly builders in your area, you can hang onto the house you call home — and make it even better.