When it comes to moving, a lack of space is one of the most common reasons families take the plunge. As families grow, so does the need for more space. One of the primary concerns is often the number of bedrooms.
But what if you didn’t have to move to create more space for your family? What if there was a scenario by which you could stay in your current home and add a bedroom? In many cases, there’s a practical solution just waiting to be tackled.
The 5 Issues and Facts to Consider
If you’re thinking about creating an additional bedroom in your home, it’s imperative that you take your time and research all of the possible pros, cons, and options you have with each. In doing so, you’ll begin to see which options are practical and which ones don’t make a whole lot of sense for your situation. Having said that, here are some issues to consider:
1. Type of Bedroom Addition
Not all bedroom additions are created equal. In fact, there isn’t a standard way of doing things. So much depends on the existing layout of the home, local building codes, HOA restrictions, individual needs, costs, and other significant details. But in most cases, you can lump a bedroom addition into one of three categories:
- Existing space remodel. The easiest and most cost-conscious method is to take an existing space in your home and remodel it into a bedroom. This typically works best with unfinished space in a basement or attic. It can also work when you have a home office or additional “bonus” room that doesn’t get much use.
- Bump out addition. When there’s no existing space for a remodel to take place, the first thing to think about is a bump out addition. This is where you choose an area of your home and push the wall out to create extra space. Some bump out additions are as small as four or five feet, while others extend 25 feet or more. The major benefit here is that you typically don’t need to run any extra HVAC.
- Detached addition. If there’s no practical way to create an additional bedroom, you might think about creating a detached addition that could serve as an in-law’s suite or apartment. If you live in a neighborhood with an HOA, you’ll be limited in what you can do.
It’s possible that you’re severely limited in what you can do and only one of these options will work. It’s also possible that you have unlimited creative freedom and a relaxed budget that allows you to pursue whichever method you’d like. Regardless of your situation, it’s important that you take time to consider the pros and cons of each and come up with a decisive plan of attack.
2. Cost factors
Cost is obviously something that has to be carefully considered. A bedroom addition isn’t cheap, but can usually be justified by the increase in value to the home.
If you’re simply finishing off a basement or attic space, you should be able to complete the renovation for a few thousand dollars. (Drywall, flooring, and some plumbing are the major expenses.) If you’re building a new addition, HomeAdvisor tells people to expect to pay anywhere from $80 to $200 per square foot. For a detatched addition, the average runs around $24,658,
3. Legal Issues
You don’t want to put a lot of time and money into creating an additional bedroom, only to find out that it doesn’t actually qualify as a bedroom. There are certain codes that must be met – so don’t ignore them!
“To meet building code, an egress window must be easy to open and big enough for escape or for a firefighter to climb into the house,” says Mark Watson of Exterior Medics. “Otherwise, the space isn’t safe and can’t be considered a bedroom for resale purposes.”
4. Tax Issues
“Adding a bedroom to your house doesn’t just make room for a guest or another family member. It also usually makes your house more valuable,” real estate expert Steve Lander writes. “However, when you add value to your house, you’re not the only one that benefits from it. Many communities will also adjust your property tax upwards based on the new value you created.”
Rarely will an increase in property taxes be enough to break the bank, but it is something to factor in when adding a bedroom. In order to avoid complications later on, make sure you pull the proper construction permits when building the addition. This will keep everything on the “up and up.”
5. Practical Details
Make sure you think about all of the little things that make or break a bedroom addition. A failure to do so could leave you dissatisfied with the room and forever regretful about the addition.
For example, it’s really important to consider the flow of the house. You might have the space to turn an office on the main floor into a bedroom, but will it leave the floor plan looking segmented and closed off? Or you may have the ability to create an extra room upstairs, but is it going to be too taxing on your AC unit, creating uneven cooling and expensive repair bills? These are all things to consider.
Buy and Sell With Green Residential
Whether it’s a 1,000-square-foot loft in the heart of downtown Houston, or a 5,000-square-foot home in Katy, your house is your castle. In order to make the most out of your castle, you have to constantly think about how you can maximize space and create more functional areas for your family to thrive.
At Green Residential, we understand the importance of the modern home. It’s the physical headquarters for healthy families and needs to be treated with care and dignity.
If you’re looking to buy or sell a home, we would love to help. Our attention to detail and friendly, flat-fee rates are second-to-none in the Houston area. Contact us today to learn more!
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