How Do I Find The Best Contractor For Additions?

When planning to have a home addition for your house – it’s always key to always get a good contractor to ensure that you get quality service and top-notch construction.  From having your kitchen remodeled, to determining which bathroom remodelers to hire or what kind of home remodel/house remodel  or addition project to get from a specific contractor or contracting company in the remodeling industry – we’re here to help!

 

What is an addition?

An addition can be defined as any structure or improvement built onto the exterior of a building, such as adding on a garage, porch, deck, sunroom, etc., but not including interior improvements like remodeling or moving walls in order to create more space inside the existing structure.

A typical example would be if someone wanted to add another bedroom to their house by expanding its size with new walls and flooring. This type of project could easily cost $100s or even tens of thousands of dollars depending upon how much work needs to be done. Garage additions add room for more cars or a mechanic area, a residential addition adds more living space. Dining room additions give more space for guests or for serving. A sunroom addition offers natural light into the house.

 

Considering having an addition

If you are thinking about having a home addition then here are some things you should consider:

 

1) What exactly do you want added/removed from your current residence? Is there room for growth in terms of square footage? How many rooms will this expansion provide? Will it include additional bathrooms? If so, what kind of bathroom ? A master suite? Kids’ play area? Guest quarters? An office? And where will all these items go when they’re no longer needed?

You’ll need to plan accordingly because most homes don’t come prebuilt with enough storage areas for everything you might decide to put into them. It’s always best to get pros for a job, like getting contractors specialized in kitchen remodeling if that’s what you want fixed.

This ensures you don’t get a universal design and that you attract only the best remodeling contractors for custom home building. So only contact kitchen and bathroom remodelers whenever the house additions you need are for kitchen and bath remodel. Same logic goes for getting a design build team, as this ensures you get custom remodeling and landscape designers  that set you apart from the typical construction and remodeling you can see from other home remodel projects. Get a master bathroom, basement remodeling, or bathroom additions to your utmost liking when you keep this in mind. 

 

2) Who will pay for the project? Are you going to finance it yourself? Or does your spouse / partner already own his or her own property. There are also other options available, such as using a loan through your bank, credit union, mortgage company, etc.

 

3) Where will the money for the project come from? Can you afford the home remodel financially? Most people who wish to build something usually find themselves short on cash at one point or another. So, before embarking on anything major, make sure you’ve got plenty of funds set aside for whatever expenses may arise during the process.

 

4) When do you think you’d like to start working on the project? It takes time to design, budget, secure permits, hire contractors, and construct the entire thing. While you can certainly begin the process whenever you feel ready, it makes sense to give yourself six months to a year to complete the project. That way, you won’t rush out and spend too much money without knowing whether or not you really need to.

 

5) Once you know what you want to accomplish, it’s important to determine which materials will best suit your specific situation. Some projects require concrete footings while others call for wood frame structures; some involve brick veneer versus stucco siding. Knowing what you want ahead of time helps narrow down your choices and gives you a better idea of what costs you’ll incur along the way.

 

6) Finally, once you’ve decided on the right material, location, and style, it’s time to contact several different builders and ask them questions regarding pricing, delivery times, warranties, payment plans, financing options, etc. Don’t forget to take measurements! Make notes of every single detail pertaining to the job, especially those that affect price and scheduling.

 

7) After you’ve narrowed down your list of potential candidates, schedule appointments with each builder. They’ll likely offer various packages based on your preferences and requirements. Be sure to compare their prices side-by-side against one another. Also be aware that if you choose a particular package but later change your mind, you could end up paying more than necessary by signing contracts for services that aren’t actually required.

 

How Much Does An Addition To Your Home Cost?

The cost of adding on to your existing home will vary depending upon how much work has already been completed and what type of material you are using. If there isn’t any foundation work involved then the price should be lower than if they need to dig up and replace concrete footings and foundations. It also depends on whether you’re building from scratch or remodeling.

You’ll find that prices range anywhere between $10-$50 per square foot for new construction projects. Prices can go as high as $100+ per sq ft in some areas, but this is rare. Most contractors charge around $30-$40 per sq ft for renovations. This includes demolition, framing, drywall installation, electrical, plumbing, insulation, flooring, cabinets/countertops etc. This would of course, differ per custom builders or project remodeler per remodels addition. Getting a designbuild firm may help, as long as you clarify the house additions remodeled project you’re looking to get from the addition contractors. 

 

How To Make Sure You Hire The Right Contractor

1) How long have they worked in the business? A reputable general contractor will have experience under his belt because he’s done many jobs over the years. He knows what works well and what doesn’t so he can help guide you through the whole process.

2) Do they provide references? Ask for names and numbers of clients whom they’ve previously worked with. Check with these previous customers about the quality of service provided and see if they were satisfied.

3) What kind of insurance does he carry? General liability coverage protects him and his workers in case someone gets injured on site. Workers compensation covers medical bills incurred when an employee sustains injuries on the job. Property damage protection insures the owner of the property where the work is being performed.

4) Will he guarantee the final product? Yes. Many people don’t realize this until after they sign a contract. However, most reputable companies won’t make promises unless they intend to keep them. Make sure the designbuild firm or contracting company never gives you a universal design , as you’re paying for custom remodeling for your residential addition. 

5) Is he licensed and bonded? Licensing means that he must meet certain standards set forth by state law before he can legally perform contracting activities. Bonding ensures that all parties involved are protected financially in the event something goes wrong during the project.

6) Can I get estimates without having to hire them first? Of course. There are plenty of websites out there offering free quotes. Just look at reviews online to learn more about the company. There are a lot of home addition contractor sharing insights on correct quotations online. 

7) Are they willing to submit bids and proposals? No matter who you use, you still need to do research and come up  with a budget. Once you know what it costs to build a house, you can start looking for builders near you.

8) Have they built other homes like yours? Not necessarily. But they should have enough knowledge to give you good advice regarding design choices, materials used and overall planning.

9) Has anyone else recommended them? Word of mouth is always best! Talk to friends, family members and neighbors about which companies they’d recommend. Their recommendations may not even involve hiring a specific person; instead, they might suggest calling several different firms to ask for pricing information.

10) When was the last time they did work similar to yours? If they haven’t had any recent jobs, chances are they probably won’t understand exactly what needs doing.

 

Finding the perfect contractor for your additions

If you’re in Northern Colorado and you’re looking for a locally owned reliable contractor who can easily get your addition, home renovation, or house remodel done in the best, fastest, and safest way possible, the best contractor near you is Local Map Construction! Reach them at 720-635-2941 or send an e-mail to get a response ASAP.

 

Read more here: Getting Yourself Some Home Addition Loans

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