Ways To Cut Home Addition Costs

The home addition costs, in about 80% of the cases, exceed expected costs by at least 25%. That's because (in my opinion) people don't know what to consider while planning their project, and because they don't have a feel for what construction will cost.

Part of that is probably wishful thinking. At any rate, here are a few suggestions that might help you avoid those unpleasant surprises.

Planning

First, Determine how the house sits on the lot and how to approach the addition. In older neighborhoods where houses are close together and yard space is limited, building up - instead of out - might be the better option.

Second, Know how your family will use the new space. Think about traffic patterns and the size of the furnishings needed for the proposed use.

Third, Figure out where the furniture and other large elements will be laid out. This will determine the location of new electrical outlets.

Fourth, Talk to an appraisal or realtor to determine how your new addition will maximize the value of your home. (The additions most likely to bring the highest return are expansions to (or adding new) kitchens and baths).

Cutting Home Addition Costs

When it comes time to select your finishes, go with economical options instead of expensive one. You can always upgrade in the future - when your bank accounts recover. These choices number in the hundreds. Shop around extensively in order to determine what your options are.

If you can either build up or build out, without compromising your layout or traffic patterns, build up. This will be more cost-effective - especially if you're adding several rooms instead of just one or two.

This would eliminate any foundation work (one of the most costly aspects of any renovation project). It will also shorten the runs for electrical, plumbing, and HVAC lines. It all adds up.

Raising a roof isn't cheap, but it's cheaper than removing an existing roof and building a new one.

Home addition costs can be seriously lowered by having the new space made in a prefab housing facility. And the disruption to your lifestyle will be much less (days instead of weeks).

Lastly, you can save on the pre-construction portion of your home addition costs by doing your own drawings. The project would have to be fairly simple - no structural components or foundation work. This being the case 90% of the time, most homeowners can draw up their own plans, even without any artistic talent.

The drafting equipment needed is very inexpensive. Your friends at the building department can help you through the process of getting a permit. There is time involved, but several thousand dollars can be saved. I'll be here if you need help (I've done it a few times).

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