Adding an Extra Bedroom: The Whys and Hows
11th May 2021
Wouldn’t it be great to finally have enough space to set up your home office or make sure that each of your kids finally gets their own bedroom? Adding an extra bedroom to your home could make these (and many other projects you have in mind) possible.
No matter how great all this sounds, the fact of the matter is that engaging in such a home addition will be costly and stressful. Then again, aside from your family’s convenience, the value of adding an extra bedroom may well be worth it.
Ask yourself where
If you’re set on making this renovation project come to life, it’s important to look at your options. You can go down the existing space route and convert it into the new bedroom, opt for a second (or third) storey expansion, or actually proceed to build a new room on the ground floor in an extension.
Converting existing spaces
The ideal solution for most people is the possibility of converting a space they already have into a new bedroom. Since it fits the original square footage, this project won’t require as much time and resources, however, it will still add some value when placed on the market.
It’s important, however, that this converted space actually qualifies as a bedroom. This differs based on where you live but usually, a bedroom should feature at least 70 square feet of floor space, have good ventilation and feature ample lighting.
Splitting an Existing Bedroom into Two Separate Bedrooms
If you’ve got an existing large bedroom, then one of the easiest things you can do to add a bedroom, and therefore add value to your home, is to split that one bedroom into two (still decently-sized) adjoining bedrooms. Such home improvements are relatively easy to do, with only the addition of a partition stud wall being required. This is particularly popular with families who have children of a similar age that constantly want to play with one another; by adding a sliding door between the two rooms, you offer them an easy way in which to see one another. Just be careful they don't get up to too much mischief under your noses.
Building a second storey for the purpose of adding an extra bedroom isn’t common with single-storey homeowners, and with good reason. This kind of expansion requires considerable construction work including roof removal.
You also need to find out whether or not the house foundation can even support the second storey, or whether significant load-bearing additions would need to be implemented. What’s more, the overall construction costs will be significant, to say the least.
Still, if it’s possible to expand upstairs, then you’d be able to increase your home’s square footage without actually taking away from your outdoor space. This would be a huge bonus in terms of value added when you consider selling.
Expand Outwards
When thinking of adding an extra bedroom to your home, most homeowners want to expand by building the room on their ground floor. Naturally, that means you’ll sacrifice part of your garden or outdoor living space so it’s important to weigh the pros and cons before making a decision. While the new bedroom (and increased square footage) will add value to your home, a smaller garden will also reduce it a bit at the same time, so it’s worth working out the finer details before you commit to an extension.
Consider a DIY-Fitted Bedroom
DIY-fitted bedrooms are those where the furniture – whether it be the cabinets, bookshelves, wardrobes or anything else – are made to measure, rather than being bought from a normal retailer. Such an approach particularly benefits homes with unusually-shaped spaces, for which a conventional approach won’t do the trick or those spaces within a home where you wouldn’t normally think to put a bedroom because of slanted ceilings. A loft, for instance.
Implementing a loft conversion in order to create a new bedroom is a great idea on all counts; firstly, and most importantly, you get that new bedroom you’ve been after. If you’ve got another baby on the way, or simply want somewhere for guests to stay, then this answers your problems. But besides that, it also adds value to your home. In fact, loft conversions can add a whopping 20% to a property’s total value
How Much Value Does an Extra Bedroom Add?
Extra Bedroom, Extra Value
Adding an extra bedroom will boost your home’s value, that’s for certain. But once you get into the process of selling your home (if you choose to do so), you’ll soon find that things aren’t straightforward to calculate. Essentially, it all boils down to the fact that there’s a difference between a property’s appraised value and its list price value.
Obviously, you’d have to think about the extra money you’d ask for when listing your home for sale. But, in the end, it’s the appraiser’s evaluation that sets the final price.
List Price Value
Once you’re done adding an extra bedroom to your home and are ready to sell, you’ll most likely get an agent to help you with the listing. This is where you have to consider things from the buyer’s perspective and assess how much they’d be willing to pay. The current real estate market in your area and the demand for a specific number of bedrooms will highly impact your listing price.
Appraised Value
When it comes to the appraised value, the appraisers will primarily focus on the square footage. In general, if your additional bedroom increases the square footage of your home, then you can look forward to a higher value appraisal.
But what about the option of converting the existing space, you might ask? Appraisers take the number of bedrooms into consideration as well, but in the end, it will all depend on your local real estate market.
For instance, the mere number of bedrooms may be a rather beneficial factor, value-wise, in more urban areas, but the chances are it won’t make much of a difference in the rural market. Also, keep in mind that both the appraiser and your agent will have to use price information from the previous home sales in your neighbourhood when determining the true value of your home.
If your home is considerably different from the rest of the properties in your neighbourhood after the bedroom addition, it might be challenging to evaluate your home properly, let alone sell it smoothly. This is why it’s important to assess the properties in your immediate area before taking up this project in the first place.
Ask for advice
There’s no doubt that you and your family can benefit greatly from having another bedroom in your home to enjoy. However, in terms of value and investment, the answer isn’t as simple as pulling a figure out of a hat.
Instead of trying to figure out what to do on your own, it would be best to discuss your options with a real estate agent. You can always do with professional advice, regardless of whether you’re planning to sell or not.
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