As a homeowner, you will likely get to a point where you decide your home is just not big enough for you anymore. You will face a decision when this situation arises, and you will need to choose to either add an addition to the home or sell your house and move.
While there are many different ways you can downsize, declutter, and maximize space, there are just sometimes when it is not enough. If you have been contemplating the idea of a home addition, you may be wondering more about the costs and what to expect. Below, we will cover all of this to help you better understand what you might be getting yourself into.
Costs of a Home Addition
When it comes to the cost of a home addition, it can vary greatly. There is no one number that can be given to you. However, when looking at ranges, you can expect the lowest end to be about $20,000 and the highest end to be about $75,000. The average cost is somewhere between $47,000 and $50,000. It is important to note that this estimate does NOT include a bathroom, which can add an additional roughly $10,000 to the cost.
Low Cost Additions
On the lower cost end, you can expect to pay around $20,000 for an addition but this will usually include nothing extra such as electrical or plumbing work. You may also find that it does not include an HVAC unit either. The actual cost to build out this addition will depend on the square footage and the features you want.
High Cost Additions
The higher cost additions will require extensive work including plumbing and electrical work. You can usually expect the addition to include air ducts or some type of heating and cooling unit. You can expect to pay around $75,000 for a high cost addition but it may be more depending on exactly what you want.
What Increases the Cost of Your Home Addition?
Below, we will discuss some of the factors that will influence a cost increase in your addition.
Type of Addition You Choose
The reason for your addition will influence the price of said addition. For example, a single room addition will cost less than adding a room designed to function as an apartment. Room additions are one of the lower cost additions as they do not have additional amenities typically weaved into them such as needing a bathroom or an exterior door. The electrical work for a simple room addition is pretty simple too, saving you on the cost.
Size
The size does matter. In fact, size is one of the major determinants in what the cost of your addition will be. The average price for an addition sits right around $150 per square foot. The more square footage you add, the higher the cost. For example, a 400 square foot addition could cost you $60,000 while a 900 square foot addition could cost you $135,000.
Plumbing and Electrical Work
Plumbing and electrical work must be completed by professionals, and you will likely need to have permits pulled for this project. The more plumbing work that is required in an addition will influence its price. For instance, if you want to have a complete bathroom added to a room addition, this will cost you much more than a room addition without any type of plumbing. In an addition, the new plumbing work is tied into the existing plumbing work in the house, which means the job can be quite complicated.
Electrical work will be necessary in the addition, but the extent of electrical work needed will determine the cost. Each state has electrical codes that have a minimum standard that need to be applied to each home. A simple room addition may only need a single outlet or light switch; however, a complex room addition such as a home office or man cave can raise the price.
Bathrooms
As we mentioned, bathrooms can significantly raise the price of a home addition. Both electrical and plumbing work will be needed for this to happen, and they must be conducted by a professional. Bathrooms use higher priced materials to construct per square foot than other home improvements.
Depending on the types of materials you choose, you can quickly drive the bill for your room addition right up.
How to Limit the Size of Your Home Addition
Lowering the cost of your home addition or keeping within your budget is possible and not unheard of. While it can be easy to splurge and pick out all the best in materials and the most extravagant upgrades, you want to remain modest and remind yourself that you have a budget for a reason. If you are on a limited budget, work closely with your contractor as they will be able to point you in the right direction.
Here are some ways to bring down the cost of your home addition:
1. Be Flexible
Keep yourself open and be flexible with timelines and when the project can start. Often, contractors will offer a discount if you are willing to wait a little longer to start the project or if you are able to schedule at a more convenient time for the contractor.
2. Keep the Size in Check
Consider the size of the addition that you are trying to build. Do you really need all the space? Narrow down any unnecessary space and only build what you absolutely need.
3. Supply Materials on Your Own
Sourcing and purchasing your own materials will save you money. If you plan to do it this way, make sure to talk to your contractor as they will need to coordinate with you. Contractors do not usually let the customer purchase their own materials when it comes to certain supplies but they may allow you to buy smaller items.
4. Go Up
If you can, consider a second story instead of a build out. It tends to be less expensive to build upwards instead of outwards.
5. Skip Changes
While you may have the urge to make changes during the build out of your addition, resist the urge. Changes will always increase the cost of your addition, so do not make changes unless they are absolutely necessary.
6. Complete Finish Work on Your Own
Finish work can be described as things such as cleaning up, painting, etc. If you are able to do these things on your own, do them. When a contractor does them for you, they charge a fee for the service and add a markup on the product. Being able to do the finish work yourself will save you money. If for some reason the contractor requires that they do the finish work, see if you can, at minimum, provide the supplies.
Final Thoughts
The cost of your home addition depends on several different factors. There are ways that you can save money to help keep the costs low. It is important to remember that the more complex you want an addition, the more it will cost you.
On a side note, if you do plan to have your home remodeled, the last thing you want is to have your items in the way. To help keep your belongings safe and free from home improvement dust, consider renting out a storage unit.