On average, building a new room or having a home extension can cost between $25,000 to $60,000, with some homeowners even passing the $100,000 mark for additions that include bathrooms or kitchens. Although these can significantly increase your home’s resale value, it can make a hefty dent to your wallet upfront.
To help you get the room addition that you’ve always wanted while sticking to your budget, here are seven ways to keep costs low.
Plan Thoroughly
The best way to keep costs low for home extensions is by planning carefully, allowing you to limit the project’s cost further down the line. For instance, see which piston filler manufacturers offer the best deals for your new kitchen setup or suppliers who have cost-effective lighting fixtures for your next bathroom. Specifying the littlest details allows you to see what you need and grab the best deals beforehand, saving you money on making alterations at the later stages.
Add the Rooms to Existing Footprints in Your Home
Having the additional rooms constructed to existing rooms in your home can save you around 25% to 50% of the total extension costs than building the additions from scratch. That’s because when you use spaces such as the attic, garage, or basement, you won’t need to add any structural elements like a foundation roof. All you need to pay for is the insulation, heating, flooring, cooling, and ventilation.
Buy Items That are Off the Shelf and Not Made to Order
Although giving everything a ‘personal touch’ sounds appealing, customized, or made to order products tend to be very expensive. That’s why it’s best to design the construction using off-the-shelf product materials like standard-sized doors, concrete blocks for walls, and bricks for timber cladding.
Do the Finish Work Yourself
‘Finish work’ pertains to activities that don’t involve constructing, including painting walls, laying tiles, installing new window sills, or assembling cabinets. However, this will depend on how confident you are with your ‘DIY’ skills. Doing this can save you thousands of dollars.
Build a Sunroom
If you’re looking to add a new office or leisure area inside your home, one of the most inexpensive methods you can do is build a sunroom. This room is usually surrounded by windows or sliding glass doors, which are significantly cheaper than building a room with concrete walls or insulation. If you love nature or appreciate the beauty of the outdoors, this money-saving money is the perfect home extension project for you.
Avoid Building on Complicated Groundwork
If possible, it’s best to avoid constructing buildings on intricate groundwork like building your new home addition next to trees or sewers as this can rack up your costs for plumbing adjustments and other considerations. However, if you live in an area that doesn’t offer much of these services, your options will be limited.
Save on Value-added Taxes on Labor
Most home extension projects can leave you paying for a VAT of 20% or more for workers. However, if you contract self-employed tradespeople who turnover less than the average threshold for VAT registration, you’ll be freed from paying taxes for labor expenses.
Whether you’re having a new baby on the way or looking to build a new man cave in the house, there will always be a time when you realize you’ll need more space in your home. Fortunately, you can always renovate at minimal expenses with the same beautiful and lucrative results when you pay for the full price by following the tips mentioned.