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...

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....

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...