Are you considering adding on to your home? It’s a great idea. An addition doesn’t just give you extra space and makes your home more enjoyable: it also raises your home’s resale value.  Knowing how much different kinds of additions cost, along with their return on investment, can help you decide which one is best for your next home improvement project.

Make sure, before you get started on any major home-related project, that you consult with a builder, check local building codes and zoning ordinances, and take your plans to the county assessor. Make sure your proposed project is cost-effective, and don’t try to tackle any projects you don’t know how to manage. As you’re determining the best project to take on, consider these possibilities:

• Building up. Have you considered a second story? There are a few options for adding on to the top of your house. You can go for just adding a full second story, which can cost upwards of $60,000 and could cost as much as $600,000, depending on your existing home. To do that, you’ll have to talk to a builder or architect to make sure your foundation and your home’s structure are sufficient to handle the addition. On the other hand, you could just build a bonus room over your garage. That only costs about $35 per square foot, because all you need to add are walls and a roof. Another option is to finish the attic, which can be accomplished if at least half of the attic ceiling reaches seven feet. The expense of finishing an attic varies, but it falls somewhere between a garage bonus room and a full second-story addition. With any upstairs add-on, however, the return on investment is significant because you’re adding a sizeable amount of square footage to your home.
• Going modular. When you add on to your house using a modular addition, you can expand your living space without all the stress of living in a construction zone. That’s because modular additions are pre-fabricated rooms that are made off-site. They’re also cheaper than conventional home additions.
• Expanding your kitchen. Even a small kitchen remodel can offer a large return on investment, and there are many great ways to improve a kitchen. You can expand the square footage by adding a walk-in pantry or a breakfast nook, or build additional kitchen space onto your house, creating a big, beautiful kitchen that will serve you well now and attract buyers if you decide to sell.
• Finishing the basement. When you finish your basement, you can use it for many different purposes, including a small apartment, guest space, a home theater, or a family room. Depending on the amount of work involved, finishing a basement can cost anywhere from $2,800 to $34,000, but the return on investment is around 70 percent. Note: If you intend to have a bedroom in the basement, make sure you plan for emergency egress windows or a backyard walkout.
• Upgrading the bathroom. Like a kitchen remodel, a bathroom renovation can have a strong return on investment: up to 62 percent. A bathroom expansion starts at about $5,000 for an upgrade and goes to about $35,000 for a full addition. Consider adding a half-bath in a small space you’re not using or extending your master bathroom.
• Adding a dormer. Adding a dormer to your attic or second story can bring in some natural light and expand your useable space. If you’re experienced enough, you can do this as a DIY project for about $1,800. Professional installation will run anywhere from $4,600 to $16,400, but the return on investment can be anywhere from 40 to 70 percent.

Capitol Design Build can help. We’ve been performing custom remodeling since 1989 and building custom, high-end homes in the Washington DC Metropolitan Area for 29 years. We serve businesses and individuals in Virginia, Washington D.C, and Maryland, meeting every need from kitchen renovation and bathroom remodeling to custom home design and building. With experience spanning many disciplines, including engineering, design, remodeling, construction, and customer service, we look forward to working with you. Feel free to shop our website, call us at (703) 436-2069, or contact us online for a free, no-obligation estimate.