Adding value to your home isn't as difficult as it appears. Homeowners across the country make alterations and upgrades to their homes yearly that add return on investment. While some people think that home additions are more for the short-term -- a means to enjoyment for the current owners -- any changes that you make to your home are also great for your ROI (return on investment). What's ROI? ROI, as is defined  in the business world, is as follows: A performance measure used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiency of a number of different investments. ROI measures the amount of return on an investment relative to the investment's cost. ROI is a way for you as a homeowner, and as your home's main investor, to calculate whether things like home additions are worth your time and money. For example, for a true estimate based on...

If your home simply isn't providing you with the space or function that you need, then it may be time to consider the possibility of a home addition. After all,  home additions  can provide you with additional living space and increased functionality, all while saving you the hassle of having to relocate. Still, before you decide to go forward with any home addition project, there are some important questions worth asking your contractor. Are There Any Specific Zoning Limits? Start by making sure that the addition you have in mind is feasible. You might assume it will be because you have plenty of land on which to build, but you need to take into consideration the fact that zoning restrictions could put a damper on your plans. For example, if your lot is zoned to where the structure needs to be a certain number of feet away from the road or...

Rearranging the living situation in your home is generally possible, but sometimes, you just do not have enough room to work with to accommodate the needs of your entire family. It is not uncommon for a homeowner in this situation to deem it necessary to find a new home, which is entirely understandable. However, dealing with the cons that come with buying a new home and likely moving into a new neighborhood is not always worth the reward. An alternative to packing up and finding a new place to live is investing in a home addition, particularly a bedroom that you can use for multiple purposes. New Bedroom to Accommodate a Growing Family An excellent addition that is likely to match exactly what a family needs is a new bedroom for new family members. With another bedroom, you can provide a room for one or two kids, depending on whether you...

Whether you have just purchased a property that you want to turn into a rental or you have been renting out a home for several years, you may want to look into home additions that can increase the rental value. Although it depends on unique details regarding your property, your best bet to maximize the increase in rental value is to invest in a new bedroom over the other options that are available. Rent Out a Two or Three-Bedroom Home If you have a one or two-bedroom house to start with, you will benefit greatly from adding an additional bedroom. It is not ideal to add an extra bedroom to a property with three bedrooms, mainly because most people who are looking to rent a home do not want or need a four-bedroom property. If you have the funds and want to maximize your rental income, you could even take a one-bedroom...

Whether it is a new addition to the family, a new lifestyle need or simply the desire to spruce up the old homestead,  home additions  can make the difference between increasing the functionality of your property and looking for a realtor to undertake the costly process of selling your home and buying another one. But there are some rules to the process. If you want to maximize your return on investment and also enhance the overall look and feel of your home, three cardinal rules set you up for success. Go for size.  When you are considering an addition to your home,  This Old House  experts urge consumers to add functional rooms such as master suites or family rooms. Noting that “bigger homes command higher prices,” going for an adequate square footage is a must. While it is tempting to add just a small sun room, remember that these additions do...

And just like that, we wave goodbye to 2014. It happened so fast! So what will you be doing in your home to ring in the new year? Is it time to renovate that bathroom? Redecorate the kitchen? Or time to finally plan out a new  home addition ?  Whatever you chose, here are some great New Year's resolutions for 2015. Time to Streamline What kind of flow does your home follow? Are there aspects about your living room that really grind your gears? Then it's time to streamline and declutter. Every year we acquire more things, and sometimes these things start to takeover and pile up. So this year, change things. Travel room-to-room and remove things you don't need or use, or things that are simply taking up space. Clearing and cleaning will free up space in your dwelling as well as your mind. Safe and Sound Sometimes the things...

From residential bathroom remodeling to more general remodeling projects, residential design and building is a huge industry in the United States, generating an estimated $47 billion in revenue. But before you start your own residential design and building project, you likely have some questions: for example, where do you start? How can you create a home that will grow and age with your family? How can you implement features you will actually use? Follow these remodeling and construction tips to get the house you want, now and in the future! Think About Your Windows Studies have found that installing new windows as part of your remodel can return as much as 77% of the initial investment cost. This is because new windows can help prevent energy loss and temperature changes, reducing your electricity bills. New windows can also help increase your property's value. However, even if you have no plans to...

These days, multi-generational households are becoming much more common. Unfortunately, it doesn't make sharing living spaces with different generations of your family any easier. For that, you'll need  home additions  in the form of an in-law suite; it can solve many issues that arise from living in a multi-generational family. You Don't Have to See Each Other Every Day The greatest beauty of having an in-law suite is that unless you really want to, you don't actually have to see your in-laws every day. Because let's be real for a minute here: Even if you like your in-laws a whole lot, you probably don't want to constantly be under their observation. Separate Entrance for Less Disturbance in the Night Living under the same roof with your grown children? Then you know how capable they are at disturbing your sleep in the middle of the night. Having a separate entrance for your...

Due to the housing crisis of recent years, a large number of growing families are unable to upgrade to a larger house. That's because the house is still underwater, and selling the house would mean having to bring money to the settlement table. Therefore, many homeowners have decided to stay in their starter homes until they gain more equity. Home Additions Make Starter Homes More Comfortable Couples unable to move out of starter homes are finding themselves outgrowing their homes as they enter their childbearing years. Fortunately, there is another option besides trying to squeeze the growing family into the tight living spaces. Couples who aren't quite ready to upgrade to a bigger house can make their current home larger with  home additions . Add a Bedroom to Gain Privacy One of the best ways to make living in a smaller house comfortable for a growing family is to add another...

If you are considering a new renovation for the end of summer, it's important to not get lost in all of the details, but at the same time still thinking outside of the box. A  home addition  can bring much needed comfort, utility, and functionality to your home, and can help your ROI (return on investment) when you decide to sell. Here are some "not-so-traditional" home additions that won't cost you an arm and a leg for three areas of your home. Foyer It is, after all, the very first thing all people see when entering your home. So why not add a personal touch and make it your own? Choose a color for your door that accents your home's style and elegance. Something that brings class and drama right away. Add touches of glass as juxtaposition and mirrors as accents. If space allows, consider adding a bench for removing shoes....

Your current home may not have enough space for everyone.  You don't have the space or the money for home additions or  home renovations .  An idea is to turn your garage into living space.  You can transform a large area into whatever you need. There are factors to absorb before the makeover. Where are you lacking space? Do you need additional space? for what purpose? Are you using the garage for anything other than storage space? If you say yes to the second question, no to the third and detailed answers on the rest, the garage is the perfect space to create whatever you wish.  Here are some solutions to makeover your garage. Bedroom Guest bedroom Studio apartment Home office Children's playroom Arts and crafts room Yoga studio / home gym Entertainment area / home theater Pet room Once you make up your mind it's time to clean up items...

Photo Courtesy of Flickr & Flickr User: erikeckel Buying an existing home means there is likely something missing, which leads to an excellent opportunity for remodeling to satisfy these desires. For people that are self-employed or are able to work remotely, creating a home office can be an amazing choice for several reasons. Future Tax Deductions Having a designated place to work means you can use this area on your annual taxes. For instance, you will be able to deduct a percentage of your mortgage, along with a portion of your electricity, internet service, office supplies, and much more. It is a great opportunity to have an enjoyable time with  home renovations  while also making a space that works out in your favor, especially on a financial level. Create an Ideal Workspace Going into an office or working in a random part of your home can be okay for getting work done,...

We all want one. But not all of them are created equal.  Home additions  can add value to any home, but not every home addition is worth your time and money , especially if your intent is return on investment.  For example, in terms of functionality, a home addition like a bathroom will increase your home's value as opposed to something more aesthetic like a bay window. Which brings us to number 1. Bathrooms If you only have one bathroom, adding a second will not only add functionality, it will add value. To find the best place for a second bath, look at your home in terms of how much you use each space. Consider placement in an area that is lacking a solid bathroom connection. Statistically, you'll recoup 55 percent of your costs and add nearly 20k to your home's value. Decks Every home should have an outdoor deck. Not...

Beginning the project of building an addition to your home can be a great idea if you're preparing for the arrival of a new baby or due to simply needing more space for an office or another room in your home. While  home additions  can help add significant value to your home and be very nice to have due to how many purposes they can serve, it's helpful to look into why you can benefit from opting for professional help.  Questions to Ask Yourself Do I have the skills to tackle a large construction project? Am I comfortable with the risks involved with construction work? How much time do I have available for the project? Can I easily find the tools and materials for the addition?  If you cannot answer 'yes' to all of the above questions, it's often best to look into hiring a professional for the help that you...

If you've been thinking about adding some  home additions , you should do some research and take as much time as you need to consider your project from start to finish before you begin.  Many homeowners, in the excitement of it all, get in too much of a hurry and jump in head first before thinking about exactly what it is they want and need from their home addition.  Here are a few steps you should take before you begin your home addition project. 1.  The first thing you should do is determine what you need and exactly how the space is going to be used. 2.  Think about how your addition will look when it's finished.  Will it blend in with your existing house and your neighborhood?  You don't want to make it so big that it becomes too big for your lot.  Additionally, you don't want it to be...