Does your house have everything you want?
The most likely answer to that question is no.
The homes we buy rarely have everything we want. Either you can learn to live without that feature, or you can undertake a home addition project.
Home additions provide homeowners with customization to get everything they want out of their homes.
However, home additions aren’t as simple as hiring a contractor to build what you want.
Many people jump into construction projects in their homes without proper consideration.
If you want to do home additions in Scottsdale, there are some things you should avoid. Here are seven mistakes to avoid when planning home additions.
1. Planning Home Additions in Scottsdale as You Go
When planning home additions, you need to have a clear vision of what you want.
Map everything out about the addition by drawing a picture. The contractor will be able to tell you what is and isn’t possible for the project.
If you make changes during construction, it can impact the quality of the final product. Not only that, but you will most likely waste time and money on spur-of-the-moment decisions.
These decisions can also lead to structural problems with the finished work.
If this happens, you’ll have to spend more money and time to correct these issues.
If a contractor has a list of your needs and wants upfront, this process will be much smoother.
2. Making Too Many Compromises
Home additions are expensive, and many homeowners try to find options to help mitigate the cost.
No one is going to fault you for wanting to save money, but too many compromises on building costs can haunt you later.
The compromises you make may affect the quality of the finished product.
Some common compromises include reducing the square footage and the quality of fixtures, appliances, and finishes.
If a project is becoming too expensive, your home addition contractor should alert you.
They should have creative solutions that will allow you to keep most of the features you want in your addition.
3. Floor Plans That Don’t Match Your Lifestyle
Your home’s design should complement your family’s lifestyle and activities.
The best designs look nice but also cater to the needs of your household.
Planning home additions can help avoid a floor plan that doesn’t cater to the needs of your home.
For example, if you host guests at your home frequently, it can be a good idea to build a guest bathroom.
The bathroom should be in a place that your guests can access with ease.
If you host guests in your living room, you don’t want the guest bathroom on the opposite side of the house.
If you have guests stay the night, it would also be good to ensure they have everything they need.
That may mean converting a half bath into a full bath.
You also don’t want the route to get to the bathroom to go through private areas of your home.
4. Underestimating the Cost
The cost of home additions is another reason why planning everything you want is important.
Numerous factors determine the cost of a home addition.
Some of these include the size of the room, electrical work, plumbing, and the cost of materials.
Get an idea of how much you want to budget for an addition.
Draw the addition and then meet with a contractor.
The contractor can give you an idea of how much the addition will cost.
If you start an addition without taking the time to prepare, there may not be enough money in your budget to complete it.
5. Don’t Micromanage
If you take the time and do research, it should be easy to find a good contractor.
They should meet your expectations and put your mind at ease about the project.
If you’ve done all of this, you should be happy with the work that they do. Do not micromanage them.
Have you ever worked for a boss that wanted to know every detail of every little thing you did?
Did they provide input that you didn’t need or ask for?
If you’ve ever had this experience, it’s safe to assume that you didn’t enjoy it.
A contractor doesn’t need you hovering over them.
If you do this, they may feel compelled to rush to finish the job.
This can affect the quality of the finished product, and then both of you will be unhappy.
6. Not Having a Cushion in Your Budget
If you’ve ever watched a home remodeling show, you may have seen episodes that involve surprise costs.
Unfortunately, this isn’t drama added to the show to make it more interesting.
When you undertake a house addition, there is a chance unexpected costs will arise.
It’s a good idea to have an extra fifteen to twenty percent of your budget for surprise expenses.
Contractors provide a realistic estimate, but once they start the work, anything can happen.
When they do the electrical work or plumbing, they may find that repairs are necessary on equipment and sewer lines already present.
The material you want may not be available or has to change due to construction needs.
It’s better to have a cushion there and not need it than to need it and not have it.
7. Poor Allocation of Space
Many people prioritize hallways as transitional spaces in their houses.
This leads to your home becoming a dark maze with little space.
Hallways are sometimes necessary, but you don’t need to use them all the time.
Open floor plans are a great way to provide more space in your home.
They also allow quick travel between rooms.
Open floor plans are popular for the space and airy atmosphere they provide.
Home Additions, Remodeling, and Custom Home Building
The worst thing you can do is make a mistake on a project as big as a home addition.
A mistake can cost you more time and money. The best way to avoid mistakes is to plan the addition you want.
Ensure that the design fits your wants and needs and makes good use of your home’s space.
Don’t micromanage your contractor and make sure you have enough money to cover your expenses.
If you have plans to do home additions in Scottsdale, look no further than Mariano & Co. We do home additions, home remodeling, and custom home building.
Call (480) 287-4096 today to set up an appointment and get a quote on your home addition project.
Are you looking for a Scottsdale home additions company to help execute your project? The team at Mariano & Co. is committed to providing each client with a 5-Star experience. Call (480) 287-4096 or request an estimate online today!
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