Popular Home Additions

Home additions can transform a house that is too small into one that is just right. It’s harder to sell one’s real estate property these days. Property values have dropped all over the country and many homeowners must stay put. Either they’re upside down on their mortgage or they just can’t get the dollar amount that they need by selling their home. If they’ve had additional children or just want more space, they may decide to add on instead of relocating. There are some rooms that are quite popular for a variety of reasons. Here are some things to think about:

- Extra bedroom: There are lots of reasons for needing an additional bedroom. Perhaps a new baby has been born and needs a place to keep his or her crib and diapers. Perhaps the children in the family are growing up and need their own space rather than sharing a room with a sibling. Perhaps the family has lots of company and wants to have a guest room ready and waiting. For whatever reason, this is a popular addition.

- Extra bathroom: Having more than one bathroom can make life easier for all members of a household. This can cut down on bickering over who is holding up the line and can make getting ready for school and work much more pleasant. Having a master bath added can make the parents or adults of the household breathe a sigh of relief. Ah, privacy at last!
- Family room or den: It’s nice to have an additional space for hanging out besides the living room. This can be a place to play games, watch DVDs, play video games. It can be a noisier and comfier space for recreation rather than the more formal living area.

- Formal dining area: Instead of eating meals in the kitchen, many homeowners want to have a formal dining suite. This space will allow for larger tables and china cabinets. Chandeliers, artwork on walls and cabinetry displaying the fine china and crystal goblets can create a lovely setting for holiday or company meals. The kitchen still has a charming feel which is good for more casual dining; having both can be swell.

- Screened in porch: Having a casual porch area that has been screened into a room can be the best of both worlds. Some call this an Arizona room or a lanai. It’s fun to decorate these screened porches with seashells, ocean motif and pipe in Hawaiian music if it’s to be considered a lanai. An Arizona room might have Saltillo tile, rattan furniture and southwest artwork.

It’s harder to relocate to larger homes these days due to the decline in the housing market. If a family has outgrown their square footage, an alternative option is to add space with a room addition. If a homeowner decides that this is the route to take, having plans drawn up by an architect will give them a visual idea of what to expect. Getting three bids from licensed contractors will allow them to decide which builder is right for their project.