Who has DIYed an addition? (Thinking out loud)

[oldnslo]

Not sure it is in new Jersey but here in Northern Illinois, the inspectors make DIY projects next to impossible. Since you have family in the business this may not be an issue for you.

Are you on city sewer and water? If not will you septic system handle more bedrooms & bathrooms?

good luck

Roy

 

[Pops15]

Sounds like you have enough experience to do the project with help from your FIL. I doubt you'll recoup the cost of the addition when you sell.

Talk to your local code department. They may tell you that you have to replace: your septic system, electric service, furnace and A/C, or even bring other areas of your home up to current code.

By the time you upgrade some of those systems, build the addition, re-side the house so the addition blends in I just don't see where it makes good sense from a financial viewpoint. Will you have to take time off from your job to build the addition (or any portion of it)? If so then figure in your lost wages.

I've built a bunch of room additions. My customers never had their additions built because it make sense financially. That had them built because they liked the neighborhood, or the house had been in the family, etc.

 

[IHDiesel73L]

Sounds like you have enough experience to do the project with help from your FIL. I doubt you'll recoup the cost of the addition when you sell.

I dunno-it remains to be seen. We got a deal on the house because it was one of the only original two bedroom/one bathroom homes left in the development. There were two more homes for sale in the same neighborhood at the same time but each had two bathrooms and more than two bedrooms (one had three one had four), and they were considerably more expensive. They eventually sold for more than we bought our home for. The way I see it the only way to make any money selling the house is to make it so that a small family could be comfortable in it. It will also be a matter of how much time it takes to recoup the value though.

Talk to your local code department. They may tell you that you have to replace: your septic system, electric service, furnace and A/C, or even bring other areas of your home up to current code.

My dealings with the code department folks on other projects have been great so far-as long as you don't try to deliberately pull a fast one on them they generally don't hassle you. Luckily we have city water so no septic issues to deal with. Electric service was upgraded to 200A by the previous owner as a condition of sale, and furnace and A/C are up to the job. Good point on upgrading the rest of the home to current code though-I'll make sure I prepare for that possibility.

 

[tlbuser]

The way the housing market is going, IMO all past performance markers have been thrown out the window. If you're ok with the thought of a break even scenario in 5-8 years, go for it. Although you may not like vinyl, that is your cheapest option. Take a sample of yours to the wholesale guys in the area to see if you can match it or get something really close. Sub out the foundation and the rest is fairly easy for an accomplished do-it-yourselfer. What about permits? Do they require a test or a licensed person?

A word of caution, bathrooms and kitchens easily whack quite a few budgets out of proportion.

 

[bdeboer]

Another way to cut some costs may be to leave the original flloor plan alone and just build the master suite in the addition. I also agree that if the neighborhood is primarily vinyl sided homes to leave the vinyl and spend the dollars somewhere else.

Something to consider now is how you are going to insulate the addition and plan for it from the beginning. The local inspectors here require an insulation plan as part of the permit process.

Superior walls might not be bad option as they have to bring in a crane regardless of the terraign. Not sure about setting the walls over an existing house though. They also have an insulation value due to the way they are constructed.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I DIYed my house, my garage addition, my pole barn, ....
Personally, I like doing the framing part.