California Home Addition — Homeowner’s Guide

If you're looking for ways to increase your home's square footage while improving its liveability and raising its value, a structural addition may be the answer. No matter how big or small, expanding your house's footprint provides flexibility for every family's budget, needs, and style. So, what exactly is a home addition?

A home addition is any newly built structure that integrates with your existing house. Full additions are common for property owners intending to enjoy their homes for years without moving. Among such works are a bedroom bump-out, home office, sunroom, or a second-story addition. Ultimately, expanding your property is no small feat and requires enlisting a home addition contractor with the right expertise to plan the execution properly.‍

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How to Avoid Home Addition Delays and Disruptions

‍Undertaking a home addition can be a stressful and time-consuming process. But with very few steps, you can avoid common delays and disruptions and ensure everything goes off without a hitch. Here are some strategies to consider: 

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Hire the right contractor. 

‍Enlisting the right home addition contractor for the job can help remove the complexities involved with expanding your home's footprint. But who is the right contractor to take on your project? 

It's important to engage a trustworthy home addition builder with the relevant expertise in the type of work you want. They know the permits needed for the job, what designs and materials work best, and can advise on ways to tackle the project efficiently.

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Right planning‍

Home addition planning from the onset will help you avoid delays and disruptions later. Setting realistic goals at the beginning of a project based on detailed plans and strategies discussed with your contractor is the only way to stay clear of a dissatisfying result. 

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Get relevant permits‍

Before the start of the project, ensure all necessary home addition permits are in place. When you hire an experienced, locally licensed contractor for home addition service, they can help with this process and ensure all proper permits are secured for your specific project and area. An article by Angi titled "What Permits DoHomeowners Need for Home Additions?" states that having the right permits helps to ensure legal and quality construction that meet the required safety standards. 

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Make the project timeline clear. ‍

Deciding on what you want altered and added to your existing property and setting a remodeling schedule is the foundational aspect that leads to a completed job. Home addition companies have the expertise to determine a realistic timeline for every project phase. Keep in mind that some delays can only be avoided if everything is planned perfectly, but it's always best to have a general idea of when the job can be completed to hold everyone involved accountable. 

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Direct Benefits of Home Addition ‍

If you're constantly looking for ways to boost your property's value, here are a few benefits of a home addition:

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You get more living space.

Home additions are a great way to add more footage to your home— ultimately giving you and your family improved comfort and functionality. Whether you desire more space for a growing family or need a dedicated room for a particular purpose, you can plan an addition to meet your exact specifications in the place you already call home.

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Great View‍

Beyond increased space,somehome additional ideas create features that you and your family will enjoy. For instance, building an extension that features floor-to-ceiling windows provides you an opportunity to take advantage of the scenery around you, particularly if you live on a property with beautiful surroundings. 

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Raise the Value of Your Home‍

Adding more footage to your home can provide a significant return on investment. Knowing the types of home improvements that increase value is important. Bankrate's article titled "8 Ways to Increase your Home's Value" suggests that adding a full bathroom, a great room, an in-law suite, or another needed space to increase the home's function sets you apart from the competition when it is time to sell.

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‍Get square footage. ‍

A vertical extension allows you to get additional square footage without cutting into your yard space. Fortunately, a home addition builder can advise on all you need to know about adding a second floor, including permits required, building regulations, and the different ways to configure your new space.

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‍More storage space‍

One of the benefits of home improvement is you can add square footage to increase your house storage. An area designated for storing all your belongings means you will keep the spaces meant to be enjoyed. 

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Multipurpose use ‍

A home addition gives the option to add space for multiple uses. For example, an additional multipurpose room in the house may serve as a home office at the current time and serve as a guest room when out-of-town family or friends come to visit. 

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Building Permits Required for Home Addition in California ‍

If you're set to begin a home addition, an important thing to note is that some improvements require a permit, while some exempt you from obtaining one. 

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When permits are required‍

Before moving forward with your project, ensure that the necessary home improvement permit is in order. This permit is an official approval that verifies the work done is safe and consistent with the local ordinances and building codes. 

Home improvements that require permits can change by the city but typically include:

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✓ An addition of a deck over a certain height.

✓ Adding a second floor.

✓ Creating another living space that alters the footprint of your current house.

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A home improvement without a permit could result in a hefty fine, having your project shut down, or obtaining the required permit at a higher fee, according to an article titled "What Happens If I Don't Get a Permit for My Home Remodel?" for Family Handyman. 

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When permits are not required‍

In some cases, a permit is not required for some home improvement jobs. Among such works are adding a detached structure that doesn't exceed a floor space of 120 square feet or a height of 12 feet, a retaining wall that's less than 4 feet tall, laying a new roof of similar material, and cosmetic improvements like painting, cabinetry, and tiling.

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When permits might be required‍

There are a few other instances where you require a permit to remodel a house. These additions typically include cutting a hole for new windows, installing new plumbing or electrical service, ventilation system changes, retaining walls more than 4 feet tall, or taking down a non-load-bearing wall. 

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Steps For Home Addition 

The process of property development can be complicated, but if the right steps to building an addition to a house are in place, it can be a rewarding one. Below are a few things to consider: 

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Determine the budget and scope

The first step in home addition planning is to determine the scale of the work to be carried out. Room additions to enhance your property's livability and real estate value can be costly, so working out a budget and setting realistic expectations will keep the process on track. Home Advisor's article "How Much Does a Home Addition Cost?" reveals that home addition costs typically range between $22,392 and $81,033 but can surpass $100,000. This is also a time to decide whether you'll need to seek financing for your project and what options are available.

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Select a general contractor in California

Tackling this kind of work requires a broad range of expertise, and it is best left to professionals. What are What are the best home addition contractors near me? A considerable amount of research is required to ensure you enlist a reputable and experienced contractor to help make informed decisions about design and materials. 

They will also create a schedule and supervise a seasoned team of builders, handle unforeseen issues on-site, and ensure the work completed meets your expectations. With such a weighty role at stake, it's crucial to engage a general contractor that understands your specific needs and can work by the set timeline and budget.

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Obtain permits, then prepare the site

Before the start of any physical construction, ensure that the home addition permit required for the work ahead is in place. A knowledgeable contractor should know the local building codes and regulations and whether official approval for the addition is needed.

Once you have a tangible plan and all permits are in order, it's time to prepare the site. This process involves stripping the site to level, bare dirt, reducing obstructions like nearby trees, creating a clear and safe path from the property's main entrance, and sometimes taking down the fence to give access to heavy equipment. 

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Build your home addition in Los Angeles, California 

The value you receive from designing a home addition can be enjoyed for many years to come. Across the Golden State, home extensions are commonplace; hence a second-story or room addition in Los Angeles will add valuable living space and boosts your home equity. For every home improvement, an appointed general contractor will manage the process needed to acquire the necessary permits, manage all activities on-site, and drive every aspect of theproject to successful completion. 

Questions You Should Ask Your Home Addition Contractor 

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What happens if you don't get a building permit? ‍

A building permit is a fail-safe approval that ensures your home addition complies with safety requirements. Proceeding without one could compromise the structure's safety, and the local inspector can have you tear down non-conforming work. Working without official approval can also lead to a hefty fine—and while obtaining one after the fact may be possible, it may cost you triple the amount of the original fee. ‍

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Will the addition affect other parts of the house? ‍

If you're planning an upgrade to your property, such as home remodeling in Los Angeles, hiring the right expert for the job makes it possible to tie the new design seamlessly into the existing house visually. Overall, structural changes add extra square footage, which opens up the rest of your home. 

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‍Who gets the building permit?‍

In a case where a building permit is required, your home addition contractor should obtain it in their name. In most cities, such as a home addition in San Diego, the person who pulls a permit is responsible for the construction work done. ‍

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Are you fully licensed and insured? ‍

One important question to ask your home addition contractor is whether they are licensed and insured. For example, San Diego home remodeling requires contractors to have a license. Your home builder should be able to present all documentation before getting the green light to start any work. Failure to do so is a big red flag and doesn't guarantee quality work. 

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