DIY Home Addition: Is it worth it?
DIY Home addition is one of the ways to get your household an extra livable space without breaking the banks. Whether you need to create a playroom for your children or want to add another bedroom for your in-laws who’re just about to move in, DIY home addition can create more space you are desperately in need of.
Since home addition is a technically intensive venture, you should have the prior technical knowledge to complete the work without expensive errors and miscalculations. However, you could still require the services of a general contractor to complete some tasks that need highly professional interventions.
Also, you should have at least someone to help you carry on with the tasks. But, be prepared for a longer project timeframe, especially if you’re working on the project during your part-time. If you’re a retired professional with no regular work schedule, you could move reasonably faster.
Plans, Specifications, And Permits
Regardless of your DIY home addition knowledge, getting started with any home addition project is the most challenging part of your project that could determine the fate of the entire project. Before deciding on what to start with, it would help to consult an engineer and an architect.
Share with the professionals what you need to add, where you need to add it, and the possible changes it could bring to your house’s original architectural integrity and the overall roofline. Whether you choose to go the DIY way or hire a general contractor to take on the project, home addition is a significant project that you cannot just wing through.
And, of course, you’ll need to submit a few copies of stamped documents to your city or town building and zoning department. Therefore, you have to get everything done right from the first step as any slight mistake in the course of the project could turn cost-intensive and perhaps overrun your budget.
At Smart Remodeling LLC, we help homeowners to turn their plans into their dream houses. Our experts will work with you through the entire project. We know what works and what doesn’t, with more than a decade of experience in building and construction.
Therefore, we’ll take care of the necessary prints in-house, and handle the submission of the drawings and other required paperwork to your town or city zoning and housing department. We can also pull all the necessary permits. If you’re not a professional or licensed construction expert, dealing with some of these requirements, permits, and restrictions could turn more than hectic.
Preparing for a DIY Home Addition Project
Practically, home addition is a massive home improvement project that could include substantial excavation or tearing down some walls to create a seamless space. Therefore, you have to be careful when working not to cause damage to buried cables and more.
When it’s time for excavation if you’re adding your home’s footprint and require a new foundation, conducting your local excavation company is very helpful. The excavation company will inform the utility company’s around your home to come and mark the lines for buried cables, important gas lines, and electricity lines.
Planning For A Successful Home Addition Project
Planning is the most critical part of home addition and other construction, renovation, or other home renovation work. Considering that your project plan is the blueprint that determines what to be done where and by who, you should get it right.
Planning for your addition project gives you a precise idea of the elements of your addition and the cost range for your project. However, the essential question you should ask yourself is what you intend to use the additional space for.
If you’re looking to add an extra bedroom and a bathroom, a playroom, and perhaps your home entertainment center, all at the same time, handling this massive DIY project can be hectic than just working on a single addition. Plus, you may need some extra space around your house to allow for the addition of an extra room.
Below are some of the critical factors to consider when planning for a successful home addition.
The location of your addition project in your home
The location of your home addition matters in terms of budget, permit, materials, and other requirements. For instance, if you plan to convert your attic or use an unfinished basement, there will be no need for a different footprint. However, if you have no unused space in your house, some options include adding to your bungalow, which will require square footage. Therefore, you should decide on the placement of your addition in advance.
Establish a feasible budget
Even with the most suitable location for your addition project, your project could stall midway without sufficient funding. Therefore, the next critical step of your project planning is to determine the amount of money you will use to complete the project and the expected return on investments. To determine your spending limits, you can check on our estimated cost of home addition in Houston. Also, you can take a look at your income, the amount of equity in your home, and the amount of your savings that can be used to finance the project. Also, consider how the finished project will affect your home value after completion. To know the value of your home addition, you check the local home listing for homes with the features as yours. Also, it is important to understand that some home renovation or home remodeling projects, such as bathroom remodeling and kitchen remodeling, could boost your home value.
DIY home addition financing options
Unlike large and complex home addition projects handled by contractors, DIY home addition has very limited financing options. Typically, most home construction loans require a contractor as a signatory. But that doesn’t mean you won’t get any loans for your project. Some of the financing avenues for DIY home renovators include:
- Cash: Paying for your home addition and other home renovation project using cash is the best way to go whenever possible. After all, it’s the most financially viable way to get your reno projects done. If you have some cash and saving enough to fund the project, you could save the money you could have paid as interest for renovation loans.
- FHA 203(k) Rehabilitation Mortgage—This loan is available to new home buyers and current homeowners looking to renovate their property. This funding option is backed by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Limited package allows you up to $35 000 alongside your home’s mortgage.
- Home Equity Loan: This option allows you to borrow at the state of your homeownership. If your home value is pretty much above the value you owe the bank, you can borrow the extra value and use it for your home addition. Typically, this is one of the loans with low-interest rates yet easy to qualify for.
- Credit Cards: While this could be an option for your project, it will attract more than regular bank loans. Consider using cards with some reward programs to save something by getting rewards on your purchases. Store cards can also be a great option. If you have a store card at a home improvement store, you can get some reasonable discounts on your purchases.
Are You Ready To Tackle Tie-Ins
While DIY home addition looks cost-savvy, some aspects could practically be beyond your DIY knowledge and skillset. Assuming you worked on your project from the foundation to the roofing, running mechanicals for plumbing, gas, and electricity.
For instance, you have to tie the plumbings of the new room to the home’s main sever, run electricity from the center of the room back to the main box, and the conditioning system. Also, chances are you may not have the capability to upgrade your main panel box to handle extra load from the newly added part of your home.
Therefore, you better hand over your home addition project to a reputable contractor and get the work done safely and seamlessly instead of opting for the hassle that may eventually go out of your skillset.
Ideally, handling finishings is pretty much easier for a DIY enthusiast than getting the home addition from foundation to roofing. The work is complex and requires a wide range of contractors to complete. Perhaps, you can try some finishing jobs such as adding trim, painting, and installing fixtures, and cabinetry.
Pro tip takeaway: Tie-ins require special equipment, skillset, and extra workforce. Therefore, hire an expert to get your project done perfectly.
Is DIY Home Addition Really Worth It?
Home additions are complex undertakings requiring paperwork, special equipment, and experienced professionals to handle them successfully. But, we are not saying you can’t create a fantastic and functional home addition, from more than a decade of experience, we’ve witnessed homeowners get quickly overwhelmed and surrender the work to home renovation contractors.
And those who work through the project till the end find themselves at a hefty cost, pretty much higher than what a contractor could have taken. The skyrocketing costs are due to mistakes and accidents. Therefore, the best way to go about your home addition project is to hire a reputable home renovation company or contractor to get everything done to plan.
Pro tip takeaway: Get your project done by experts and avoid costly mistakes that could make the task extremely expensive.
Start Your Project Today
Want to start your project today? We are ready to take your home expansion dream to the next level. With our many years of experience in real estate, we deliver every project we handle on time with exceptionally high-quality outcomes.
Contact us today, schedule a free in-home consultation, and get a FREE cost estimate to help craft a feasible budget.
