 | Low: DIY Additions Can Run $3,750-$7,500 |
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 | Medium: Conversion Projects Can Run $7,500-$50,000 |
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 | High: Master Suite Additions Can Run Around $100,000 |
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| Whether it's more room for a growing family or finally getting that master bedroom suite you've always wanted, adding a bedroom (or two) can increase the comfort and convenience of your daily life, without having to move. Adding a bedroom might also increase the resale value of your home (although that's not guaranteed). | | |
| Typical costs: | - Do-it-yourself costs to convert an existing garage or basement into a bedroom run anywhere from $200 -$5,000. Hiring a contractor for the conversion project can be $7,500 -$50,000 or more depending on the size and condition of the existing space; whether the project includes a bathroom; and local labor rates.
- Adding new floor space for a simple bedroom and closet with a foundation (but no bathroom) costs about $25 -$50 a square foot if you do all or most of the work yourself (requires high-level skills), and anywhere from $50 -$150 or more a square foot to hire a builder, depending on complexity and local labor rates. That?s $3,750 -$7,500 for an entirely do-it-yourself 10x15-foot bedroom or $7,500 -$22,500 or more to hire a contractor to create a relatively straightforward addition.
- Contractor costs for a more extensive project (such as 500 square feet of new floor space with two bedrooms and a bathroom) can run $50 -$250 or more a square foot, or $25,000 -$125,000, and costs can go as high as $300 -$500 a square foot for complex and luxurious projects.
- A Louisana homeowner had a basic 20x24-foot bedroom, bathroom and laundry room addition (nothing fancy) built for around $30,000 (about $63 a square foot). In contrast, an annual cost survey by industry magazine RemodelingOnline says the price of a 24x16-foot master suite addition (including master bath) averages around $98,650 in the Midwest, $105,000 along the East Coast and $111,500 in the Western states (about $250 -$290 a square foot). For a luxurious 32x20-foot master suite with a spa-like master bath the survey says the cost jumps to around $325-$400 a square foot.
What should be included: | - If adding floor space, first check with your local planning . Better Homes and Gardens provides an overview of legal remodeling requirements.
- RemodelOrMove.com gives a detailed list of potential costs for a home addition.
Additional costs: | - If you're adding weight to your foundation, you may need a report from a structural engineer at a cost of $300 -$800 or more, to see if your existing foundation needs to be reinforced or repaired.
- You'll probably need a set of plans for your bedroom addition. Your builder might be able to supply them. Several online companies (such as Cadsmith.com or WoodProjects.com) sell standard plans for master suite additions for $100 -$200 or more; make sure the plan can be easily adapted to your specific situation and local building codes. Or you can hire an architect to create a set of plan drawings.
- Books about how to plan (and survive) a home addition run $10 -$35 or more, or may be available at your local library.
- Construction dust is going to be everywhere. Rent a self-storage locker for $40 -$230 monthly for your cherished possessions, and cover larger items (and as much of your house as possible) with plastic. You might want to go on vacation, stay with friends or rent a motel room for the worst of the construction process.
- Usually an addition will trigger a reassessment of your property taxes and a resulting tax increase, but in most areas the reassessment will only be on the value of the addition, not for your entire house. A large addition may also increase the cost of your monthly utility bills.
Shopping for a bedroom addition: | |
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Article updated January 2009 |
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