Add On to Home
Ideas, costs, tips and plans - the information you need for a successful Home Addition project
December 2021
Homeowners have many important questions about their Home Addition Project. How much will it cost? How long will it take? What problem areas do I need to watch out for? Can I recover my Home Addition investment when I sell? Can I do some of the work myself? What can I do to make sure that the work is done right?
Costs, materials and best practices for the example Home Addition project will help you answer these questions. Use this information to develop a budget, bid requirements, hiring contracts and a project plan.
Home Addition - Project Overview
Important considerations for this project are summarized below.
| Project description | Extend house foundation. Frame addition structure. Add electrical.Insulate and finish walls. Include surface finishes. Average to above average quality. |
| Project size | 250 square foot room addition /expansion |
| Do-it-yourself assessment | The typical Home Addition project involves tasks that are best performed by experienced professionals. Good quality Home Addition requires considerable experience, skill and attention to detail. Do it yourself mistakes are noticeable, may be difficulty to remedy and may actually reduce the market value of the project and your home. |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Returns vary widely and are affected by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Home Addition project in an appropriate neighborhood can return as much as 77% - 91% of its initial cost. |
| First year Return on Investment - ROI | Returns will be impacted by the range of home prices in your neighborhood, the overall condition of your home and sensible design choices. A high quality Home Addition project can return as much as 67% - 78% of its initial cost |
| Green rating | Home Addition projects can employ renewable resources and environmentally friendly construction materials. Efficient lighting, HVAC, insulation and appliance choices can significantly reduce the energy footprint of your home. |
Home Addition - Project Plan and Details
The following list includes major work tasks commonly performed during Home Addition. Use this list to understand the timing and sequence of different steps in the Home Addition project. Click any task name for task details and an up-to-date Homewyse example cost estimate for the task - this essential information will help you control Home Addition project cost and quality.
Do you expect to spend more than $250 on your Home Addition project? If so, it is important create and manage a detailed plan for all project activities.
| Task | Service Provider | Time | Difficulty | - |
| Create Working Drawings | Architect | 5 to 15 d | - | |
| Install Subfloor | Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Frame Interior Wall | Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Frame Ceiling | Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Install Duct | HVAC Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Upgrade Electrical Service Panel | Electrician | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Install Lighting Circuit | Electrician | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Remodel Electrical Box | Electrician | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Insulate Your Home | Insulation Contractor | 1 d | - | |
| Install Drywall | Drywall Contractor | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Texture Drywall | Drywall Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Install Wood Window | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | - | |
| Install Prehung Door | Finish Carpenter | 1 d | - | |
| Install Trim Molding | Finish Carpenter | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Paint Trim Molding | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Paint Rooms | Painting Contractor | 1 to 3 d | - | |
| Install Hardwood Floor | Flooring Contractor | 1 to 2 d | - | |
| Install Electrical Outlet | Electrician | 1 d | - | |
| Install Thermostat | Electrician | 1 d | - | |
| Install Lighting Fixture | Electrician | 1 to 2 d | - |
Home Addition - Proven Ideas and Project Tips
Review these tips, design suggestions, options and lessons learned before finalizing your Home Addition project plan.
- To maximize return on the Home Addition project, limit cost to no more than 21% of home's total, post project value
- For best home resale value, follow a consistent design and decorating theme throughout the home
- Perform major Home Addition work with permits to help protect value at resale time
- Match appliances and fixtures to electrical circuit, hot water and gas capacities
- Understand how your project will change property taxes (assessed value) and home insurance - before the project begins
Hiring Local Professionals
Our FREE hiring guide helps you hire wisely, get quality craftsmanship and understand fair pricing for your specific project.
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