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[simbarel]

Have you ever built an addition to your house? Did you build on so you didn't have to move?

We bought small b/c property prices in the areas we want to live in were rising so quickly that we felt we HAD to get "in" and to live in MY preferred area we had to buy a fixer-upper and a small one at that. We have enough land to build a garage/workspace and hopefully a new master bedroom on top of it, and Wally is looking to hire a contractor, but I was kinda hoping we could get someone to pour a foundation and then do it ourselves (aka himself ) Any heaven/hell home addition stories chez PP? I guess the other option is to sell and buy a bigger place but I LOVE our 30-year interest rate and I LOATHE moving! Tell me that adding on isn't a big deal.

[iamgrumpy]

my folks have lived in the same home for 27 years and my mom can't wait to sell it and get into an apartment but thats just her!

I love the house its nice and big the last owner put an addition on to it and well they did it themselves and boy can you tell and they didn't do it right so now we are suffering.

If Wally can do the work well and doesn't mind have him do it! but if he wants to hire someone just make sure they are well recommended!



Amy

[graygables]

We added on a kitchen and did it all ourselves from the ground up. It's a good thing, though, that it's off the back of our house, sorta in the country and hidden by shrubs b/c we didn't get any permits SHHHHH! DH knows all the trades, so even if we had an inspection today, it would more than pass (think: Mr. Monk the Electrician ) If you can manage all the permit and inspection stuff and have the patience to do it, then I say go for it. I never thought I'd help raise a ridgepole, but I did it! You will have to hire subs for some things (electrical, for instance), but a lot you can do yourself if you're the slightest bit handy (and after seeing your new living room, I'd say you're in good hands!)

Just remember...measure twice, cut once! And...the foundation is the most important part of the home. Good luck!!!

[Luv4My4]

We haven't added on to our house but I really wish we could we desperately need more space. We have a small (1400 sq. ft. not including the basement family room) 3 bedroom rowhouse. I have Shannon & Katie sharing a room right now and Molly is going to have to go in there too since Erin is so much older (8, 11 & 14 years older than her younger sisters) and needs her own room. There really isn't much room to extend though so we are probably stuck with what we have. We can't afford to buy a bigger house in the city and we have to stay in Philadelphia because my DH is a Philadelphia Police Detective and there is residency requirement that says we have to live within the city limits

Good luck with your home addition. If we could extend we have friends that could help us build on but the permits to do what we want to do would be really hard to get.

[Bert & Sully]

It makes life interesting.

[Bert & Sully]

It makes life interesting.

[Happymommy]

If your husband is handy, he could probably do it once you get the permit. We also had to buy small to get into the area I wanted to live in (mostly for the school district), so we live in a small twin. I really love it (It's nice and cozy-- and I love our neighborhood). Right now my husband is working on finishing our basement, and putting another bathroom down there, then I'd really like to add on, off of the back of our house. Sometimes, Joe says it may be easier to move, but I really don't want to (except for the fact that we don't really get along with our next door neighbors which stinks). My husband's pretty handy (he's an electrician), so except for the waterproofing of the basement, he's going to do everything himself. Good luck with your addition!!!!