There can be many reasons for wanting to add a room to your home, but in the majority of instances, it’s to help create more usable space. While it’s a great project to take on – and can increase the value of your home, too – there are a number of mistakes typically made by homeowners when adding a room to their home, and here are 8 of the most common:
- Not matching the floorplan to your existing lifestyle
Whatever type of lifestyle you (or you and your family) lead, it’s important to design a room that matches that perfectly, otherwise you’re left with a space that isn’t functional and usable. Fortunately, if you work with an experienced general contractor and design team, they should be able to achieve this and ensure that the extra space you so desperately needed, is an asset to your home, not a burden.
2. Not prioritizing function
As mentioned briefly above, adding a room to your home that serves no real purpose, will most likely be a waste of your hard earned money. Make sure that you talk to your renovation company about what the space will be used for, and by whom, so that they can make sure it’s fit for purpose.
3. Failing to assign space thoughtfully
While a corridor might help you get from one room to another, these tend to become unused spaces that are dark and dingy. You might need a hallway or a corridor, but don’t have too many of them, and wherever possible, open up your home and its spaces to create light and more room for everyone. Every single part of your home should be optimized for space, and with careful planning from your chosen renovation company, you should be able to achieve this.
4. Making things up as you go along
Ad hoc home additions are a recipe for disaster, and without a sound and structured plan in place, you risk the entire project going off the rails. Working closely with a general contractor, every phase of the room addition can be planned meticulously to make the most of time, and of course, your money.
5. Not paying close enough attention to your current infrastructure
Often applicable when bathrooms or kitchens come into play, should either of these spaces be moved away from existing drainage areas, could see the cost of the project skyrocket, and mean that it takes a lot longer to complete, too. Always think about where your structural walls and drainage pipes are, or where they need to be, before coming up with a final plan.
6. Not hiring a general contractor
Trying to deal with different contractors that you’ve chosen yourself, to deal with each different aspect of the room addition, is rarely a sensible idea. Instead, choose an experienced general contractor whose team will handle every element of the project, seamlessly.
7. Micromanaging the project
While there is no reason why you shouldn’t be there to oversee some aspects of the project, trying to supervise proceedings from start to finish, could see you overstepping the line with your general contractor, and quite honestly, getting in the way. Trust in your contractor or renovation company, and know that if there should be a problem, they will reach out to you at the earliest.
8. Going with the first renovation company you find
Shopping around helps you not just get the best quote for a project, but find the best company or general contractor, too. Don’t be afraid to ask for references, read reviews from previous customers, and ask questions regarding their level of expertise.
You may still make mistakes when adding a room to your home, but with careful planning and by working with a skilled general contractor, hopefully you can avoid the major ones listed above.