The Texas Hill Country is wide open, and you may need a home addition to open up your house to match. And honestly, the match is really worth it. Many a crooner has sung about the wide Texas skies, and you only need to look up to see for yourself. Underneath such a sight, do you really want to stumble around a cramped house?
How to Plan and Build a Home Addition
First, you have to figure out what you want. Do you want to build up, or out? Are you adding something more like a little breakfast nook, a sun room, or an entire living room? What’s your budget?
Once you have these questions answered, you need to check with the Planning & Zoning folks at your local courthouse. Some places are VERY particular about what you can add to your house, and if you ever sell it, you’re legally required to disclose any unpermitted additions and other remodels to the buyer. The fines can be steep, so be prepared.
All good with Planning & Zoning? Great, it’s time to find your builder! They’ll help you plan how to best make this change efficiently and in a way that suits your goals best. You might get excited and try to cram too much into a space. On the other hand, you might end up planning a MUCH bigger room than needed! A good builder can help you put things into perspective.
Now you and your builder have a plan, and it’s time to figure out what to do while the building crew is at work. If you really enjoy waking up to jackhammers and falling asleep to nail guns, then stay right there. Otherwise, you might want to get out of the house for a while, or set daily start and stop times with the crew.
What’s it Going to Cost Me?
This is the biggest question in any build, and the answer every time is, it depends. Make sure to get a rough estimate from your builder, but know that it can (and probably will) change. Common setbacks include weather events, a surprise need for upgrading existing structures, and really anything else you can think of. Be aware that this could be coming, plan for it, and everything should run much smoother for you!
Building a home addition is often a pretty quick project, and makes for a great way to add value to your home or improve your quality of life within it. Plan well, trust your builder, and enjoy the benefits of a well-built home addition!