Adding square footage to your house is always a challenging task. Where do I add? To the back of my house, in the front, on the side or maybe go up another story.
First one needs to check his setback. The dimensions of your property is information that can be found at the county clerks office orhttp://maps.assessor.lacounty.gov/mapping/viewer.asp. This will show you a division of your street and the streets surrounding your property. You will need your APN number, which can be found in your assessors report. With the help of google maps you can have an overview of where your house is located on the property. You should probably measure the distance from the fence to the house on all sides. The city municipality will be the one to answer the question of your setbacks. We find many cases where it is 10% of the side property line to the addition or existing house. The back can vary from 0-25' depending on the neighbors lot. The front setback - also known as the front line - is the longitudes where all the homes in your street start. In simple words, you should be able to look left and right while standing on your front porch and figure it out. If some homes are closer to the sidewalk/pavement, then you have a few more feet you can extend towards the front.
Second story depends on the seismic endurance of your dwelling. If you want to find out right away, look for homes that have a second story on your side of the street. If they exist, you can go up to the same height. If you wish to be a pioneer, it is best to hire theassistance of an architect that can direct you in the process you are about to undertake.
After you decide where to add please ask yourself why am I adding square footage to my house? Resale value, lack of closet space, one bathroom is not enough? and if we are already adding a master bathroom, why not enlarge the room and design that walk in closet you've always wanted ('Sex and the City' is a perfect example of that!) The possibilities are endless and we will present all of them for you on our 3D design software. The design then turns to a complete work plan and includes necessary details for the construction phase.
Materials
While the plans are waiting for city approval, it is best to start researching the finish. Look at the interior of your home; what are the dominant colors? Would you like to keep them and design the interior with a similar color scheme? Or, should it be something else?
Each one of the appliances you will buy for your extra space and features you will use, will have an effect on the complete picture. Neptune assists its clients with the different options and many times helps with the shopping of materials. Stone and wood products centers are spread around the local counties. With the help of today’s technology, we are able to find the best price for a product you desire. Even though we strive to satisfy, there are cases in which our client is a better shopper then we are and can get better prices for materials.
Value
The value of your home is in relation to the neighborhood you live in. Same goes for the value of your added space. Research websites such as www.redfin.com to determine what your house will increase in value in its new shape and size. Compare the numbers to previous years and calculate the increase/decrease ratio. Real estate has proven throughout the years to be a long term growing investment. For example, in the 70's your house might have sold for $30,000; where today, it is worth $450,000. That is a 1500% increase in 40 years, which averages an increase of 37.5% per year. It's not a consistent raise, but its profound. Neptune Construction & Remodeling is happy to provide you with all the necessary data and design, engineer and build your dream home.Call us today for a free design consultation.
