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Home Extensions
Building Home Extensions Require Significant Upfront
Planning
By: Mark J. Donovan
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Each year thousands of homeowners
build home extensions. Unfortunately for many, their home extension projects are
plagued with design issues and cost overruns. Home extensions are major home
construction projects, and consequently substantial upfront planning is
necessary. Far too often homeowners jump into home extension construction
projects without sufficient research and planning first.
To mitigate the risks of a home
extension construction disaster it is important to develop a home extension
build plan. |
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A home extension build plan
begins by formulating a home extension checklist that lists all of the tasks
needed to be performed in a successful home extension project.
Developing
Home Extension Plans
First and foremost it is critical
to develop a complete set of home extension plans. The home extension plans
should contain an entire suite of documents including; initial sketches of
the home extension, architectural structural drawings, plot plans and an
itemized list of build materials. |
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With a complete set of home extension
plans you then go out and solicit contractor bids.
When developing home extension plans
it is important to make sure that the new home extension ties in aesthetically
and functionally with the existing home. Consequently it is wise to hire an
architect. It is also important to not overbuild the home extension relative to
both the home and local real estate market conditions. A local real estate
agent can provide insight into the market value of homes in your area to assist
you in determining the maximum size of your home extension. |
Hiring Home
Extension Contractors
Once you have a set of home extension
plans in hand, you can then go out and solicit contractor bids for your home
extension. When soliciting contractor bids make sure to thoroughly interview the
contractors and check references. Look for reputable contractors that have a
long and successful history of building home extensions. Make sure the
contractors are licensed, bonded and insured.
| Also make sure to carefully review all of the home extension
contractor bids with each respective contractor. The contractor bids should
include detailed and itemized cost breakouts for all phases of the home
extension construction project. In addition, the bids should include
timelines for completing the project. Also carefully read and understand the
payment structures. An initial deposit of 10-15% is not to be unexpected.
However, after the initial deposit, payments should be made after work is
completed as described in the contractor bids. |
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Also make sure contractor bids
specify who will pull permits and arrange for inspections during the home
extension building.
To help in obtaining accurate and
consistent home extension contractor quotes, see my
Room
Addition Bid Sheet. The Room Addition Bid Sheet provides a
request for quote section that you can provide to prospective building
contractors. It also includes a comprehensive home extension cost breakdown
table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows the contractor to include his
projected home extension costs for every phase of the project.
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Photo by Mark Donovan |
Financing Home
Extensions
After developing a complete set of
home extension plans, selecting a contractor, and obtaining accurate bids you
should be armed with enough information to visit your local banks for obtaining
financing. If you plan to pay cash for the home extensions costs, then this step
is unnecessary, however for most homeowners financing will be required.
When obtaining a home equity loan or
construction loan, make sure you borrow enough funds to complete the home
extension construction project. Typically you should add another 5-10% to your
contractor bids to account for unforeseen contingences that always end up
happening.
By developing a detailed home
extension checklist, and addressing upfront these three key issues your chances
of a successful home extension building project will be dramatically improved.
So take the necessary time up front to plan well. By doing so you will ensure a
home extension project that is built to your specifications, as well as meets
your budget and schedule.
For more help on building a home extension, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Home
Addition Bid Sheets.
Our
Home
Addition Bid Sheets
provide you with the knowledge and information on how to plan a home addition project,
and what to look for when hiring contractors. They
also include detailed cost breakdown tables and spreadsheets for estimating
your own new home addition building costs.
How to Finance your Home Extension Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
Related Room Addition and Home Extension Building Articles
Additional Home Extension and Room Addition Resources from Amazon.com
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Price Quotes with No Obligation!
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