02 Aug What Costs are Associated With Room Additions?

Figuring out a budget and a plan for a room addition can be tricky—and no matter how large or small your room addition will be, the costs can add up. Before you start on any home addition project, make sure you factor in every possible cost you can think of, and still leave room in your budget for unexpected hiccups and extra costs. Anyone who has been through a home renovation or remodel project can tell you that unexpected costs can happen no matter how prepared you are.

The costs associated with a specific addition will sometimes depend on the kind of room you’re building; but no matter what you’re adding on to your home, you’ll want to build room for  the following costs into your budget.

1. The experts

The first part of your budget that you’ll likely spend is on the experts who oversee the design and construction processes for your new addition. You’ll want to make sure that each consultant you work with is both experienced and is a good fit for you—so it’s always a good idea to shop around for as long as you need before putting money down and committing right away. Make sure you pick the right people who will help you build the perfect addition to your home. The people you need may differ depending on the type of room you’re adding on, but no matter what, you’ll likely need the following three experts:

• An architect to create a plan that includes everything you want in your new room, while making sure it fits with the design of the rest of your home.

• A structural engineer to make sure your plan is safe before starting construction.
• A contractor to manage and oversee the labor and construction process.

2. Labor costs

Once the plan is made and the contractor is hired, you’ll need to hire workers to carry it out. This includes the basics of the construction process, like building the room itself, laying a foundation, and putting up drywall, but don’t forget about things like laying carpet or flooring, doing electrical work, installing appliances you may need installed, etc.

You may be able to cut down on some of these by doing things yourself, but be careful! If you’re not entirely sure what you’re doing, it could result in an even more costly—and time intensive—setback.

3. Cost of materials

Labor is the more obvious cost that comes to mind when you think about a building project,  but don’t forget about all the materials that are needed, too! And be sure to factor in all the materials that will be needed, not just the basics like drywall. Consider everything you’ll need, like countertops, windows, carpeting, flooring, and more.

4. Décor, furniture, landscaping, and more

Remember that even though it’s not strictly part of the construction process, décor and landscaping are important steps in the process of adding a room addition, and you’ll need to set aside part of your budget to decorate your room once it’s complete. The last thing you want is to get to the end of a long, expensive construction process and realize that you have to spend more money that you didn’t account for on décor, furniture, and landscaping around the addition. Have a plan for furniture and décor before you start building your addition, and make decisions ahead of time so you know roughly how much it will all cost.