If you’re looking to get started on planning your first home addition, this is the article for you. By the time you finish reading, you’ll be much better equipped to handle working with a contractor or architect.
Define Your Problems
By focusing on the following area of your home, you can better achieve your goals:
- Living space (common areas, living rooms, dining rooms)
- Sleeping space (bedrooms, guest rooms)
- Comfort & Convenience (bathrooms, laundry rooms, storage)
- Cooking
- Function & Flow
- Business (Office space, rental income, resale value)
Needs Versus Wants
It’s great to have dreams, but it’s key to be practical. This stage will help you make educated decisions so that you don’t blow your budget on items you won’t use often or could live without.
How Big Should My Addition Be?
Once you’ve identified which issues need solving and what your wants/needs are, the next step is to consider how much space you can afford. Even if you have a preference for building out or up, an architect may be able to suggest a better perspective that hasn’t crossed your mind.
What’s in a Blueprint and Why Do You Need One?
You will need blueprint drawings from a professional so that you can get an accurate estimate for the project. The builder won’t be able to give you a bid without these plans. These plans not only tell us what materials we’ll need but also go into detail about any construction happening on or near the property.
Consider The Exterior
Lastly, you have to take into account the exterior of your home because new siding will need to be attached to the old. Consequently, this must be planned ahead of time. Will you replace all the siding or just attempt to match new material with existing sider?
Hiring a Contractor
The most practical way to achieve your goal is by forming a relationship with the contractor you want to work with and allowing him to introduce you his thoughts on who the ideal architect would be for this project. The reasoning behind this being that you will end up spending more time chatting with the contractor than actual architects and disagreements are bound to occur between yourself and anyone you partner up with–it’s inevitable.
We are a team of professionals from estimators, designers, project managers and installers who are dedicated to having happy customers who are thrilled with the end result. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you!