Additions are the right answer when you need real square footage and you love your location. They’re the wrong answer when you actually need a different house or when the existing structure can’t support the addition without a major foundation rebuild.
1. Do I love this house and this neighborhood?
An addition makes financial sense if you’re going to stay. If you might sell in three years, the math is different.
2. Is the existing house structurally up to it?
Adding a second story to a house with an undersized foundation means foundation work first. Sometimes that’s a deal-breaker on cost.
3. What does the lot allow?
Setbacks, height limits, lot coverage, and (in some neighborhoods) historic review can all restrict what’s buildable. We figure this out before you fall in love with a design.
4. How long am I willing to live through it?
Six months of construction next to (or attached to) your living space is a real thing. If that’s a non-starter, an addition may not be the right move.
5. What’s the resale picture?
A well-designed addition that brings the home in line with the neighborhood typically recovers most of its cost. An addition that pushes the home well above neighborhood prices usually doesn’t. We’ll be honest about this when we walk the project with you.