Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
What is a home addition?
A home addition is a new structure added to an existing home. Home additions create more living space, accommodate a growing family, and improve the home’s overall value.
A home addition can be completed by making a single room bigger or adding an entirely new room or second story to the home. A more affordable home addition option is to convert an existing garage, basement, or attic into a more functional and comfortable living space.
Does a home addition increase property value?
A well-built home addition can increase property value. The increase in square footage adds value, especially if the addition includes functional and well-designed living spaces. An addition that adds an extra bedroom, bathroom, or larger kitchen can make the home more appealing to potential buyers.
How can I finance a home addition?
You have various financing options for a home addition, such as:
Home equity loans – These bank loans allow you to borrow a lump sum by using your home equity as collateral.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC) – Unlike a lump sum, this revolving credit line enables you to borrow against your home equity as needed.
Cash-out refinances – By refinancing your mortgage for an amount exceeding your current balance, the lender provides the surplus in cash, which can be used for home improvements.
Personal loans – Unsecured and without collateral, personal loans have higher interest rates, determined by your creditworthiness and loan approval.
Credit cards – Consider using a low-interest-rate credit card for smaller home additions, ensuring prompt repayment.
How can I save on a home addition?
Consider the following recommendations to reduce the expenses associated with a home addition:
Opt for a straightforward design with minimal features to keep costs down.
Construct the smallest addition that satisfies your requirements and complies with local regulations.
Explore the option of repurposing existing spaces, such as basements, garages, or attics, which is generally more affordable than building a new structure.
Do basic tasks like painting and interior finishing on your own to cut down on professional labor expenses.
Select budget-friendly building materials and finishes in more spaces, and splurge on a few items with the most impact.
How do I choose a home addition builder?
Follow these suggestions to get the best home addition contractor near you.
Seek estimates from several contractors for the same addition size and features, allowing for informed comparisons.
Evaluate the builder's reputation by checking recent reviews on HomeGuide and Google to assess their performance.
Request a site visit to see the contractor's construction methods and gauge their workmanship firsthand.
Choose a contractor with proven experience in the specific type of home addition you desire.
Protect yourself by requesting an itemized written contract that outlines the scope of work, specifications, and payment terms to prevent any misunderstandings.
Inquire about the contractor's preferred lenders to streamline the financing process and potentially secure better terms.
Exercise caution and avoid making large upfront payments. Never pay in full or in cash, as this could leave you vulnerable to potential issues.
What questions should I ask a home addition contractor?
Here are some helpful questions to ask a home addition contractor:
How many years have you been specializing in home addition projects?
How many home additions have you successfully completed within the past year?
Do you provide design services to help create a floor plan for the home addition?
Can you provide me with a list of references from previous clients, along with their contact information, so I can gather feedback on your work?
Do you have a portfolio showcasing your past home addition projects that I can review?
Are there any recent home addition projects I can visit to see the quality of your workmanship firsthand?
Are you fully licensed, insured, and bonded to protect me from any potential liabilities?
Can you advise me on the most suitable locations for building an addition to my home?
Can you provide me with a detailed cost estimate for the home addition project?
Are there any cost-effective strategies we can consider to reduce the overall expense of the project?
Can you provide a realistic timeline for completing the home addition project?
Who will be my designated project coordinator responsible for overseeing the project's progress?
Do you employ your own experienced crew, or do you subcontract the work to other contractors?
Reviews for Alexandria home addition contractors
Recent success stories from people in the Alexandria area.
Billy M.
Switch and Outlet Installation
Ran two dedicated outlets and added two breakers for me. Worked alone. Took a little longer than I thought but he got it done. Great guy.
Seymour’s Electrical
Bernard S B.
Promptly and reasonably
RL Martin
Sandi G.
Patrick gave recommendations first before starting the work. He was knowledgeable and kept his work space clean.
Gojonesy Enterprises
Brian M.
Install or Replace a Vinyl or PVC Fence
Rab and his team were very responsive and flexible with scheduling. They also led the project in regards to discussing plans with the county permit office and navigating HOA discussions. The team worked hard and quickly. I would hire them again for a number of different needs not just fences.
A Pair of Hands Contracting
Rj H.
Remodel Now did an amazing job completing our bathroom remodel. We loved their workmanship and communication throughout our process so much, they are completing our basement remodel in the spring.
Remodel Now
Irene H.
good boy knows what makes the very friendly and the most important quality of work and good prices
MineraReyesServicesLLC
Emma F.
Emington and his crew with Home Improvement were a pleasure to work with.
And I want to start off by saying this house was in very bad shape. It might have been easier to knock this house down and rebuild.
Home Improvement were professional with respect for the persons living in the house and neighbors that surrounded the area.
Ermington’s crew works as a unit. The first time we met, Home Improvement gave me an estimate and the second time we met we discussed the details of the estimate.
I was absolutely positive this house didn’t need a new roof. I couldn’t have been more wrong. In a blink of an eye the 4 men who came with Emington were grabbing their ladders and were now in the attic and on the roof of my house. As we talked Emington’s crew was sending him photos of the attic and roof damage. As we moved forward, I was blissfully unaware of what I wanted in colors and styles. Emington told me to drive around the neighborhood and look at siding and roof colors. Extremely good advice. I told him what I saw and from there he suggested what colors would complement each other.
His crew replaced the roof first. There was no screaming or cross talking from the crew for the roof replacement. The siding was next. Same crew, same results. Excellent work and respectful. I noticed they paid attention to splices with the siding. Everything looked even with no gaps. The windows were next along with the air conditioning.
The perfect plan was to bring each company to me for each project. Pella came in for the windows and showed me styles, designs, etc.… I never had to run around looking for what I wanted. There was no sales pitch and no one talked me into an upgrade. This also applied to the air conditioning.
There was a timeline but because I worked in an environment where my clients always need a ship date, I was already prepared for delays and wrong products. I can assure you mistakes will happen to delay projects that are totally out of the contractor’s hands. But with Home Improvement, Emington took control and followed up on the issue right away. He would send me emails and updates. This was very much appreciated. There was also an emergency with my family and we had to put the entire project on hold for 30 days. Emington understood and he never gave me a hard time nor did he up charge me for lost time.
Home Improvement and Emington and crew were very easy to work with. If I wanted to make a change, they would tell me honestly if that change would affect another room or if the cost was so far out of range I would decline. The crew was polite respectful, no cussing and they cleaned up after themselves. Emington’s crew also did little things to help us out. Took the battered trash cans and got rid of them for us, accepted delivers and so on. These things add up and, in the end, saves you time.
At the moment, I decided to hire Emington and crew from Home Improvement to build a screened in back porch. My decision was based on his work and the art of his craft.
I highly recommend Home Improvement as one of the best contractors I have ever worked with.
This was not my first rodeo with a construction company to turn a house into home. This site was the first time I worked with a structure in ruin and Home Improvements turned it into a home. My highest recommendations go to Home Improvement, Emington and Crew.
Emma Fox
Home Improvements LLC
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