Home Additions
Adding to your home should be a joy, not an inconvenience.
Home additions are great ways to add to your existing home to accommodate for a growing family, increase livable space, and put your personal touch on the home.
People often choose to add onto their home to solve a problem or fill a void they feel their home has. Keep in mind the reasons you’re choosing to add on, and this will help you
throughout the process in making it more enjoyable and satisfying.
Aspects to Consider
Functionality – An addition of space that solves a problem is a win-win. Not only are you increasing the quality and value of the house, you’re increasing your quality of life. Analyzing how you will use the new space and how it will function will make it more useful for years to come.
Seamless Transition– When adding space to your home, look to make a seamless transition as if the new part was built and designed at the same time as the original home. This can be done by minimizing awkward transitions or routes to get to the new space, or choosing trim and moldings appropriate to the homes history and style.
Access – Where will the new space be accessed from? Will multiple access points add to the flow of the layout and floor plan? Defining how the new space will be used will aid in seeing where the ideal access point is.
Storage – When designing the addition for your home, look to incorporate storage solutions. This addition in space can help you unclutter and live a happier and stress-free life.
Built-in cabinetry and storage ideas also help make the addition feel like it belongs to part of the home.
Future Improvements – It’s quite common these days to see families living in their homes for longer. Often we’ll see family members come and go, and extended family members living under the same roof. It’s smart to consider adding rentable space or an accessory apartment that can be utilized when it’s not being used by family.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Should we hire an architect first?
Answer: It’s up to you! If you have a preference on an architect for your project, we would love to collaborate with them early on, as a team-focused approach makes for a more successful project.
If you do not have an architect, we will pair you up with one that fits your needs and one that is well-suited for your specific project.
Question:Are we able to add on an accessory apartment or mother-daughter suite?
Answer: This all depends on your specific municipality. We suggest inquiring with your local Building Department and Code Compliance office before you begin the planning process.
Question: Are there zoning requirements we need to know before adding on?
Answer: This is another one that depends on the specific municipality. Check with the local Building or Zoning Department as they may have certain guidelines for setbacks including distances to property lines, height restrictions, or restrictions as to how much of your property can be covered by a structure.
If in the process of buying a home that you would eventually add on to, do this research ahead of time so you can truly assess the value you see in the home.
Ready to get started?
We would love to hear about your future project.