| |  |  | | | | Remodeling an existing home almost always costs more per square foot than new construction, because the renovation must match the existing structure, which may not be level or straight. However, a home addition can add desired space without the hassle of moving to a new home. | | | | Typical costs: | - Adding a bathroom by converting existing floor space starts around $3,000 -$6,000 (depending on easy access, size and quality of fixtures and other amenities) but can run $7,000 -$25,000 or more for spa-like master baths or projects with poor access to existing utilities or requiring foundation reinforcement. Do-It-Yourself supplies start around $500 -$1,500 for a basic bathroom or half-bathroom, but can run $2,000 -$4,000 or more for a larger spa-like project. Having a contractor add new floor space for a bathroom starts around $25,000 -$50,000 but can go up to $40,000 -$80,000 or more for a spa-like room.
- Converting existing floor space into a bedroom as a do-it-yourself project runs anywhere from $200 -$5,000 or more depending on what's involved; hiring a contractor can be $7,500 -$50,000 or more. Adding new floor space for a basic 10x15-foot bedroom runs around $3,750 -$7,500 for an entirely do-it-yourself project or $7,500 -$22,500 or more to hire a contractor. The cost of adding a AA www.costhelper.com/cost/home-garden/porch-addition.html>porch can range from $50 -$120 for do-it-yourself materials for a simple concrete slab to $3,000 -$6,000 to have someone pour a 50x20-foot slab.
- Converting existing floor space into a family room as a do-it-yourself project runs anywhere from $200 -$5,000 or more depending on the complexity of the project, the quality of the materials and your skill level; hiring a contractor for the conversion can be anywhere from $7,500 -$25,000, depending on what's included. Adding new floor space for a 400-square-foot family room can run $10,000 -$20,000 for a do-it-yourself project, or $30,000 -$100,000 or more for an addition built by a contractor.
- Adding a 1,500-square-foot second floor with large sections done as a do-it-yourself project (plus serving as your own general contractor when needed) can run $105,000 -$225,000; hiring a remodeling contractor for the same project can be $225,000 -$450,000.
- Adding a small 10x12-foot wood deck can run $500 -$1,000 for do-it-yourself materials or $1,000 -$1,900 to hire someone to build it. A larger deck of wood or plastic composite can be $4,000 -$25,000 or more depending on size, materials and complexity.
What should be included: | - Each city or county has its own requirements for how much square footage you can add based on the amount of land. Better Homes and Gardens provides an overview of legal remodeling requirements.
- Better Homes and Gardens explains what to consider in siting your home addition. RemodelOrMove.com gives a detailed list of potential costs for a home addition, and RemodelingCenter.com provides guidelines for planning an addition to your home.
- Construction work can be extremely disruptive, and often involves a crew working inside your home starting early each morning, which will change your family routines. Talk with the contractor about scheduling, and when water, electricity or other utilities might be turned off.
Additional costs: | - Usually an addition will trigger a reassessment of your property taxes and a resulting tax increase, but in most areas the reassessment will only be on the value of the addition, not for your entire house. A large addition can also increase your monthly utility bills.
Shopping for a home addition: | - To hire a general contractor to handle all aspects of a complex addition, the National Association for the Remodeling Industry provides an online booklet with tips for hiring a contractor, as well as contractor referrals.
- Check whether a contractor is licensed in your state, and whether there are any complaints with the Better Business Bureau. A written contract should include a detailed outline of the work required and materials used, dates within which the project will be done, and a payment schedule.
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