How to Prepare for Your Home Addition
Deer Ridge Construction works with homeowners to expand their homes as life changes using high-quality materials. When building a home addition, many people may not realize the amount of preparation that is required for the project. These projects can take around 3-6 months to complete, you should have a detailed plan for what is to be done. Deer Ridge Construction can help you decide how you want to design your home addition. Below are some tips on how to prepare for your home addition.
When to Get A Home Addition or A New House
When discussing home expansion, many homeowners debate whether they should add on to their existing home or buy a new one. Both are great choices, but the decision relies on how much space you need. Home additions allow for more control of the project, letting you decide what you want the space to be based on your budget and needs. Home additions will typically solve the “needing more space” issue, but sometimes buying a new home will be the appropriate choice depending on your needs. Buying a new home gives you less control as they are built based on the previous homeowner’s preferences. We recommend investing in building a new home if you are looking to have full design control of your new house. Deer Ridge Construction will take our customers’ needs and budgets into consideration and use their ideas to create their perfect dream home. Check out our Home Additions vs. Buying a New House blog to learn more about making this decision.
Preparation Tips
Define Your Budget
Determine how much you have to spend. The average cost of building a new addition depends on the room you are building, but typically it ranges from $60,000-$150,000. It can range into a six-figure cost if you are adding multiple rooms to your house. Factors that can increase the cost include if you live in an expensive area or if the landscape of your home is difficult to work with. Discuss with your contractor and figure out the budget that you are comfortable spending for the work you want done. Be prepared for any unexpected issues that can arise by having some wiggle room in your budget in case of any sudden cost increases during construction. Once your budget is set, secure your funding by obtaining a second mortgage, home equity loan, or start a line of credit. Once your budget and funding are secure, you can start preparing for the build. Request a free quote with Deer Ridge Construction to start planning your build today.
Know Property Lines
Find the property line that separates your land from your neighbor’s, this information will most likely be found on your property deed. This is helpful because it will show you the space you have to work with, some local codes say you can’t build a certain distance to the property line. It will also help you plan the dimensions for your build, letting you know any landscaping issues you may face. Check for any local regulations that you need to follow, and make sure you are following all the appropriate laws for your area.
Research Contractors
Building a home addition is not a DIY project, you need to have a professional contractor help you. Research contractors in your area to find a reputable company that will align with what you want to build. When researching, check reviews, portfolios, quotes, and testimonials to determine if the contractor has been recommended before. Speak to the contractors you like and discuss the project you’re planning and their building process to see if they will be a good fit for your project. Loop in a professional as early as you can, they can help you with designing the addition and staying within budget. Deer Ridge Construction will work with families to bring them their dream addition with little hassle, giving you peace of mind that we will help you achieve your goals while accounting for your budget. Check out our How to Choose the Right Remodeling Contractor blog for more information on researching contractors for your projects.
Figure out Your Design and Materials
Figure out how you want your addition to look and what you plan to use it for. Keep in mind how it will look from the outside, you need to make sure that the aesthetics of the new build match the rest of the house. When designing, think about how you will live in the space – the addition needs to be functional for how you plan to use it. Looping in your contractor early will let them help you come up with a design that will work with your house and they can bring in their expertise to find ways to bring more value to the site. They can also help you pick out materials, giving you suggestions based on the work they will do. Deer Ridge Construction uses quality craftsmanship to help you design and build your addition with only the best materials. Find materials that will match the rest of the exterior of the house, discussing the existing materials used will help your contractor figure out what is needed for the build.
Obtain the Appropriate Permits
When building a home addition, you are required to adhere to local regulations and obtain permits for the new build. You will first need zoning approval to ensure you can build your addition on your lot. You can contact your area’s municipal office for information on zoning laws. If you live in Lancaster County, you can view their municipal zoning map to find the places where zoning laws are restricted. You will also need to obtain building permits from your local municipality, if you don’t have one the building inspector may order you to stop construction and fine you. If you are adding any electrical, plumbing, or gas features to your addition, you may need permits for those as well. Check with your local municipality to determine what permits you will need. Your contractor will also know the permits that are required and can help you obtain them.
Prepare for a Lifestyle Change
When building a home addition, the construction area will not be habitable. You may have to adjust your lifestyle slightly so you don’t hinder the construction. There will be an increase in noise levels, but our team will typically work during the time that you would be working, finishing by the time you get home. If you work remotely the noise levels may be distracting, it’s a good idea to look into finding a temporary office to work in while the construction takes place. In cases where we are adding multiple additions to a house, it is sometimes recommended to find temporary housing for a few weeks during the demolition phase to avoid the noise. If you are planning on adding to or remodeling your kitchen, you will not be able to prepare food in that room. You will need to set up a temporary kitchen during the build. Make sure you have the essentials for food preparation to make easy meals and use paper plates and plastic utensils for easy clean-ups. There will be a few inconveniences that you will face during construction, discuss with your contractor the lifestyle changes you will need to make so you will be prepared when demolition starts.
Make Sure the Construction Site is Clear
You are almost ready for construction to begin. Whenever you add to your home, make sure the room that will be adjacent to the new space is ready to turn into a construction zone. While our crew keeps a clean site and is respectful of your space while working, it is best to prepare that room for any damage that may happen just in case. Clean out anything you don’t want to get damaged or dirty during the build and cover bigger furniture with plastic to ensure they stay clean.
Build Your Home Addition
Once all the planning and preparation are in place, it is time to build your home addition! The contractor and their crew will build your home addition, which will take around 3-6 months to complete with Deer Ridge Construction’s expert craftsmen. When the build is near completion, double-check that everything in your master list of things to be done for the build is checked off. Have meetings with your contractor near the end of the build to discuss any concerns you may have, anything you want changed, or make sure that anything not checked off on the list is completed. When everything is checked off and your concerns have been answered, you are ready to enjoy your new build from Deer Ridge Construction!
Contact Deer Ridge Construction today to start designing your dream home addition in Central Pennsylvania. Request a complimentary quote to help you understand the services we provide and the budget you will need for your project.
