Home Addition Cost

In simple words, home addition is the process of adding more space to your home. It could be in the form of a new room or a new floor. Or it can be done by increasing the size of your current room. There are several types of home additions that you can make. These types will be discussed further in this article.  

How it can be beneficial?

A home add-on can significantly increase the space of your home. You can double triple, or even quadruple the utilizing space that you have right now without buying new land. You can basically extend your home upwards, downwards (Basement), or on the plain ground (If you have an idle place). 

People prefer home additions over buying a new property as it is relatively cheaper, easier, and most of all they don’t have to change places. 

How much does a home addition cost?

Now you might be wondering how cheap it is and what could be an estimated cost. Well, there is no one answer to that question. The prices will vary significantly on multiple factors like space, quality, type of work, and a lot more.

Someone might just need to transform their attic into a living space while another person will need two new rooms on their property. Both these will be considered a home addition but both will have a huge difference in the cost.

But as a rough estimate, a home improvement in 2024 can cost anywhere from $15,000 to $80,000. There are also some online tools to give an estimate but they might not be accurate. 

Factors that affect the overall cost.

Here we are going to discuss some of the factors that can massively affect the overall cost of the project. So, let’s start with the first one. 

  1. The size of the project. 

The biggest and most prominent factor is the size of the project you are deciding on. It’s simple maths that the more space you want to utilize the more money you will have to spend. 

However, its not that simple also. You might find some people giving you a simple formula by calculating the price per square foot. Doing calculations with this method is wrong. Here’s why.

A contractor might give you a quote of 100 dollars per square and your project is a total of 100 square footage. Now if you going to ask the same contractor to provide you the same services on a 50 square footage, the price drop will not be significant. You might get $80 or $75 dollars per square foot. 

The reason is that the contractor will still have to plan, analyze, do measurements, arrange raw materials, and much more. All these tasks are mandatory despite the size of the project. 

  1. Quality of the materials used

The better quality you go for the higher the price will be. You should contact wholesale suppliers if you are planning for a large project. This way, you will be able to get quality materials at affordable prices. If you are not in contact with a wholesale supplier, you can ask your contractor to find one for you.

Also, our experts suggest to prioritize your needs first. Don’t go for the most fancy and extravagant stuff. Try to fulfill the functional requirements first. Once you have them covered, you can spend on decorations and other stuff. 

  1. Prices charged by the constructors

Labor cost is a significant factor and sometimes amounts to up to 60% of the overall project cost. There are no standard prices. Every contractor will be charged according to their services, expertise, and experience. 

You should not compromise on the quality here by going for the cheapest option. You should contact multiple local contractors and get their quotes. Ask them about what they will be offering, what their experience is, and about their previous projects. 

You don’t necessarily need to hire people with half a century of experience. Look for companies that have at least 6-7 years of experience. After that, you can choose the one who is offering the lowest quote. 

  1. Local building laws and regulations

Building regulations vary depending on the area. You will have to contact your local authorities to ask them about any charges that you have to pay before starting the project.

You might have to pay for some regulated utilities like electricity, water, gas, or more. Apart from that, you might also need to pay to obtain some necessary permits that are mandatory before a home addition.

If you are confused or don’t know what authorities to contact, you can always ask your local professionals. 

  1. Type of addition you are making

As mentioned before in the article, there are different types of home additions that you can get. Below are some of the most common types:
Basement conversion, additional rooms, creating a home office, extending your bedroom to a master bedroom, getting a new bathroom, adding another story above, and getting another kitchen. 

All the above are completely different projects with completely different functionalities. All of them will require different raw materials, fixtures, utilities, and more. 

Getting a new bathroom will involve getting a whole new set of plumbing while creating a home office will require expensive decorations, equipment, and furniture. 

All this diversity results in different costs which cannot be calculated by a simple per square footage formula.  

Also, one of the most expensive types is getting a new basement and getting a new room on the ground. Both these involve massive changes to the foundations which is a very expensive, time taking, and difficult task. 

Tips to reduce the overall cost

  • Instead of getting a whole new room, try to extend your current room. It will still give you ample space and will be a lot cheaper. 
  • Always go for energy-efficient options both in construction and the decorations. There are many energy-efficient state programs with which you can avoid taxes. 
  • Opt for synthetic materials rather than going for genuine authentic materials. These synthetic materials are still very durable and provide the same looks. For example, go for laminate flooring or vinyl flooring which are durable and can last for years. Going for a 100% hardwood floor will be very expensive and is almost a luxury for most people in this economy. 
  • Try to do small tasks on your own which are safe. Doing small DIY can decrease the overall cost of the project. 

Conclusion:

These are some of the factors that affect the overall pricing of home additions. These will vary a lot depending on the location and the project itself. It is recommended that you contact your local professionals to get an accurate estimate. They will be able to look into each detail and give you the closest quote. Despite getting a quote from a professional, it is safer to keep 20% or more of the budget as a backup. You will face some unexpected costs and this backup will ensure that the project does not stop due to lack of funds.