A house might suit a family perfectly at first, but what happens when one of the owners becomes pregnant with triplets or wants to move in an aging family member? Adding onto it is one option. However, the process is time-consuming and expensive, so it isn’t a decision to make lightly. What are the pros and cons?

Building an addition can substantially increase residents’ enjoyment of their property, but it entails legal questions and ongoing expenses homeowners must consider before leaping. Here’s everything to know about adding on to a home.

Pros and Cons of Adding on to Your Home

People today have a high incentive to stay in their current living arrangement if they obtained an affordable mortgage years ago. High housing costs have created a shortage of such properties, driving more people to multigenerational living.

Squeezing eight people into a 2-bedroom home is a game of human Tetris nobody enjoys. Adding more living space helps, especially if local zoning restrictions prohibit parking RVs in driveways and backyards. That’s not the only advantage of adding to a home, but homeowners must also examine the potential downsides.

Cons

Noting the cons beforehand draws attention to factors that often go overlooked. For example, neglecting to get the proper permits can result in costly alterations and fines. It could also cause electrical problems, leaks, and improper fittings that create unnecessary risks and expenses.

Other downsides of building a home addition include:

• Taxes: Most jurisdictions base property taxes on a house’s value and increasing that also ups the yearly bill.

• Cost: Although inflation has cooled on building materials somewhat, they remain pricey.

• Upkeep: Just as some people need more space, others downsize. The maintenance of unused rooms gets burdensome.

• Resale: The biggest house on the block can sometimes be as hard to move as the smallest, especially if it stands out.

Pros

More living space is only one advantage of a home addition. It can also increase resale value in two ways. One is from the extra square footage, although that’s a fixed number. The other is offsetting costs by charging rent if building an ADU, which can help buyers cover their mortgage. The amount owners can charge adjusts according to market conditions, making such properties attractive to those who rely on passive income.

Additionally, financing a home addition could be easier than obtaining a new mortgage. Given current interest rates and high new home prices, taking out just enough for the extra space a homeowner needs makes more sense for those who locked in earlier, lower percentages. Those with equity can use home equity lines of credit to cover costs. Although rates are comparable, borrowing less means paying less interest overall.

Finally, building an addition gives homeowners considerable agency. Although they must adhere to local codes, they have more leeway to design what they want versus settling for a cookie-cutter layout.

What Are the Most Popular Ways to Add on to a Home? 

Here are four of the most popular home additions builders see today.

1. California Room

A California room features three glass walls, with large windows and doors that open to the outside. It’s similar to an enclosed patio but uses sturdier materials for four-season habitability and climate control.

Such spaces raced into vogue during the pandemic as people sought ways to get outdoors while heeding restrictions. They’re fabulous for merging indoor and outdoor living, and make lovely home offices or dining areas.

2. Accessory Dwelling Unit

ADUs can attach to the principal home or consist of freestanding structures built on the same property. They differ from sheds in that they have separate plumbing and electrical systems, and contain a bathroom and kitchen. Those planning on renting theirs must pay close attention to local building codes regarding minimum dwelling size and interior components.

Homeowners can get creative building green when adding an ADU. For example, their design may use sustainable materials like cordwood, straw bales or mycelium roots. If constructing an ADU, they might create a separate electrical system with solar.

3. Bump Out

A bump-out makes a specific room larger without the complexity of a full addition. Cantilevered bumps on second stories don’t take any space away from the yard and are limited in size. Ground-floor bump-outs may extend 10 or more feet from the main home.

One popular bump-out is a chef’s kitchen, complete with a full pantry. Another example is adding a third garage bay or enlarging a bedroom to accommodate multiple children.

4. Garage Addition 

Garages share similarities with ADUs in that some homeowners convert their parking areas into living spaces. Others build a separate structure for parking, sometimes with an apartment on top.

5. Traditional Addition 

Traditional additions incorporate a whole new room or set of rooms into the house. Some homeowners add a second — or third or fourth—story onto an existing structure. Others add a wing.

The Stages of Adding on to a Home 

Although each addition is unique, they share similarities. Homeowners will go through the following steps, whether they DIY or hire contractors to handle everything from start to finish. Knowing what to anticipate facilitates the process, calms anxieties and provides a roadmap:

• Planning: Planning is the first step in adding on to a house and arguably the most important. Homeowners must ensure they obtain the requisite approvals and permits, estimate the cost of materials and labor, create a realistic timeline, and locate the appropriate professionals to complete the project.

• Pouring the foundation: Pouring the foundation is the next step for everything but second-story bump-outs and added stories. If not constructing a freestanding ADU, homeowners should match the foundation type to the existing foundation.

• Framing and windows: This step consists of constructing the exterior frame of the home, including means of ingress and windows.

• Plumbing and electrical: Those adding rooms, bump-outs or traditional additions will tie into existing plumbing and electrical systems. The exception is an ADU the owner plans to rent, which must have a separate system.

• Insulation and drywall: Once everything else is in place, it’s time to install insulation and drywall. This step might look different depending on the design. For example, straw bales and cordwood are naturally insulating.

• Paint, decor and cleanup: Finally, it’s time to clean up any lingering construction debris, and paint and decorate the new living space.

Adding on to a Home With Ease

Homeowners may discover they need more space for various reasons. When life changes but moving isn’t practical, adding on to an existing house provides the room they need while letting them remain on the original property. It’s a time-consuming and expensive process, but knowing what to expect makes it easier.

Author: Evelyn Long

Cover image by Daniel McCullough on Unsplash