A home addition is, as the name suggests, an addition to the home that expands it without the family having to pack up and move to a new location. There are many different types of home additions but one thing they all have in common is that they give the existing home more space and functionality. Another thing they have in common is that some of the utilities will need to be expanded to reach the new home addition. That can include plumbing, electricity, and definitely the HVAC system. An expansion of the HVAC system means that new air filters might be needed as well. You can get new air filters from both physical and online retailers. You don’t even have to leave your home, since most retailers offer air filter delivery for your convenience.
Different Types of Home Additions
There are many different types of home additions that homeowners can use to expand the footprint of their home, all of which are useful in one way or another. While they can be somewhat costly, they are much cheaper than having to buy a brand new house. Some of the more practical and useful home additions are as follows.
A Multi-Room Addition
This is one of the more complex types of home addition, but it is also one of the most useful. The reason is that it adds many different rooms to the home, which gives everyone more space without the need to move to a new home. While this type of addition is among the more useful, it is not appropriate for every home since not all homes might have the space to support additional rooms. A multi-room addition is also among the more expensive additions—often reaching five figures—but it is still much cheaper than buying a brand new home.
A Single Room Addition
In some cases, it is much easier to add a single room to the home than several. Not only is it likely that the home will have enough space on the grounds to accommodate a single room but it is much cheaper as well. Plus it is easier to expand the electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems to a single room rather than several of them. A single room might not seem like much but it can make a big difference, especially if it is a practical room like a bedroom, bathroom, or home office. Sometimes a single room is all that a home needs to feel more comfortable for everyone living there.
Garage Conversion
If you do not have the space on your property to add a new room, then you can convert your garage into one instead. It will take some work since the garage was obviously not meant for human inhabitation, but it is less expensive than an entire room build-out. You may need to change the flooring since a concrete floor may not be comfortable for most people. You will definitely need to extend the HVAC system into the converted garage in order to make it more comfortable for anyone living there.
Of course, electricity and plumbing have to be extended as well in order to make the space truly livable. The relative ease of a garage conversion compared to other home additions may make it a tempting proposition, but you should not rush ahead if you are planning on selling the house in the future. The reason is that a house without a garage has a lower resale value, so you should only proceed with a garage conversion if you are not planning on moving anytime soon.
A Home Addition is a Good Investment
In general a home addition is both a great way to add extra space to a home, but it also helps to increase the value of the home as well since more space is always a good value. The exception is a garage conversion but even if it does not necessarily add value to the home, it can still be a good investment if you really need the space or if you rent it out to people who need a temporary place to stay.
A home addition is a better alternative to finding a brand new home especially if you only need one or two extra rooms in your current home. It is less expensive, more convenient, and less laborious than having to search for, buy, and move into a whole new house. So if you think your house is too small, then don’t go to the real estate websites just yet, think about a home addition instead.