Follow our ultimate list of how you can complete an addition to your home through every stage of the remodeling process
A home addition checklist keeps your project organized by tracking permits, design plans, contractor selection, financing, and construction milestones from planning through final inspection.
Your budget should include 10 to 15 percent above estimated costs for surprise fees, material delays, and extra expenses that can come up during construction.
You need to secure building permits before breaking ground, including separate permits for framing, plumbing, and electrical work to meet local municipality codes and regulations.
Hiring a local building professional provides guidance on design plans, permit requirements, and construction timelines, helping your addition stay on schedule and meet building codes.
Building a home addition not only gives you space for that craft or game room you’ve always dreamed of, but it can also add value to your home. However, adding onto your home can be a daunting task, especially if you've never done one before. There are so many plans, paint swatches, permits, and yet so little time. But with a home addition checklist that walks you through the process step by step, minimal stress is involved.
So, you want to add to your home. Maybe your house doesn't fulfill your needs anymore. Or perhaps you're in your dream home, but you need more space for a growing family or at-home business.
Either way, you have plenty of options when remodeling and adding to your home. This type of project isn't easy—there are many rules to follow, safety considerations, and professionals you must hire to complete the job correctly. For that reason, unless you are a certified pro, you'll need an expert to complete the job.
Below are some questions you should ask and ways you can plan your home renovation the right way:
What problem am I looking to solve? Are you trying to add more space to your kitchen, bedroom, or bathrooms? Or do you just want to build a room that’s totally yours?
How should the room look and feel? Before you begin building anything, collect ideas on websites like Pinterest to show to your general contractor or architect.
What's my budget? Look up home addition costs based on what you need. You should add 10–15% on top of the number you come up with to account for surprise fees and extra material costs before looking at estimates.
What's my timeline and project scope? Start by basing your project's timeline on your budget and the season you ideally want to complete it. Depending on the time of year, suppliers might have delays on materials, permits might run slow, and weather might interfere.
Who am I willing to work with to complete the project? When you look up local general contractors and get estimates, consider the business’ reputation. Check their references and similar past projects, and ask smart questions. Get quotes from at least three top general contractors on your list and make sure their estimate has your best interests in mind.
What permits do I need? Before you begin any work, learn which home addition permits you need, plus any rules and regulations for building on existing properties.
Where will I stay while the work is going on? Will you live in a temporary space in your home, or will you stay somewhere else completely?
If I need to relocate, where will I store my things? For more significant projects, you may need to move your belongings to a storage space if you can't bring them with you.
Before planning any home renovations, be sure to know the rules and regulations in your area first to meet local municipality codes. Here are some common renovations to consider:
This is the way you expand the front, back, or either side of your home. Though, some municipalities do not allow for encroachment on the front yard, so be sure to know the rules in your area first.
Much like a balcony, this extension of your home appears to be floating, supported by special joists. Many people choose to create a bedroom suite or office using this type of addition.
Adding a new level to your home is a lot of work and quickly becomes expensive, but you might need an extra floor to accommodate more family members or roommates.
It might be time to remodel that dreary, cold basement into a liveable area like a basement apartment, a home office, or an entertainment room. Excavating a basement to create a floor layout is a popular home improvement project.
It's pretty common to rehab an old attic into a bedroom, office (hello working-from-home), or storage room. To make your attic inhabitable, you will need to remodel it as an addition due to permits and building codes.
If you want to add a little square footage, but don't want to build a full-on room, a veranda or sun porch is a suitable happy medium because it's not a full-scale project like a bedroom or apartment with an on-suite or closets.
After you know the details—what your room will be, if you're going for wood as opposed to carpet flooring, etc.—you need to begin your build. Here are the steps to follow to complete your project:
Check with your bank to understand financing options
Complete a room addition design plan using online tools and a contractor or an architect
Hire a contractor after carefully reviewing their estimate and confirming the timeline
Iron out details and to-do's for the contractor to get started (including sourcing materials and supplies)
Finalize home build financing from the bank
Talk with a local building inspector to pull permits for your project
Obtain all building permits for your project (I.e., framing, plumbing, electrical)
Begin to break ground, excavation, and construction
Visit construction site to stay up-to-date on progress and any delays or issues (expect some, but hope for the best)
Schedule inspections as you enter the completion phase
Get your room addition inspected so you can use your new room finally legally
Move into your new addition and enjoy your new space
Jason has helped me with multiple household projects, with the most recent being new door installation. He has always showed up on time and organized and has done an incredible job! Jason is very professional and he's now my go-to for anything around my house that needs to be fixed or...
Huff Garage Rescue, LLCCole has been handling plumbing and general contracting for our four properties over the past three years, and he’s always done a great job. Most recently, he installed a sink and countertop in our retail store where none existed before, and it turned out exactly how we needed. He’s...
ANB Renovations LLC1st Choice Renew is simply the best! We hired them for a complete home renovation, and they transformed our space into something truly amazing. The team attention to detail and commitment to quality were evident throughout the project. They were easy to work with, very responsive, and always...
Save A DimeThis company went above and beyond with their work, chimney sweeps are usually pretty messy, but the clean up was spot on.!! Josh explained every thing that he was doing, and the things that he was checking to make sure the chimney was safe for me and my family. He was very professional,...
Supreme brick & chimneyCustom Paint Jobs LLC turned our outdated bathroom into a modern masterpiece.
Custom Paint Jobs, LLCExcellent customer service and knowledge. I was recommend to him from my neighbour. My front door and window came in great and were installed beautifully perfectly, I m very satisfied with their excellent work, so decided to order one more big bow window for my living room. I cant wait for...
Window Depot USA of Central OhioIf I could give 10 stars for Kitchen Tune Up, I would. I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Kitchen Tune Up and the entire team involved in the process of my kitchen project. They went above and beyond as far as service and quality with my cabinets, paint, countertops, and...
It was wonderful working with Yordy and his team. They were very professional and are experts in what they do. They have completed the work on time, with better quality and with in fairly reasonable price. We just started with backsplash work , but liking his work, we went on to provide...
Flooring SolutionsWe were having 2”x 2” tile installed . There was a small installation error and the new additional replacement tile was from a different lot and the colors didn’t match. Joe assured us that he would rectify everything , which he did without hesitation. We decided to go with the 18” x 36” tile...
CarifaTileThey work that 360 did on my kitchen cabinets is nothing short of amazing. I still cannot believe the difference from before and after. Jon and Jeff were both so incredibly professional throughout the whole process and their communications with me were constant and consistent. These guys...
360 Painting ColumbusFrom average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Whether you're dreaming up a new office or a peaceful sunroom, home addition costs will shape your design. Learn what to expect for every vision.
Dreaming of additional square footage and extra living space? Learn who builds home additions to make sure you get the best professional for the job.
Learn how to find and hire the best contractor for home additions. Discover key qualifications, questions to ask, and tips to ensure your project succeeds.
A home maintenance checklist can help you keep on top of necessary tasks and repairs. Learn how to keep your house in good condition and avoid costly problems.
A new home is one of the biggest purchases many of us will make in a lifetime, which is why there are so many steps to take on the path to homeownership. This home buying checklist will ensure you’re not missing any important steps along the way.
Use this comprehensive mobile home inspection checklist to ensure your home is safe.