When you need to add more square footage to your home, you have a few options, from expanding with a backyard addition to transforming your garage, and another consideration is to go up — by renovating your attic. Planning an attic remodel for your Austin home is a major project so it’s best to know what to expect in advance, before you start working with a contractor to get the job done. Following a plan can help you determine the best strategy for your attic renovation to streamline the process, and to understand if renovating your home is worth the investment.
Imagine your ideal space
As with any renovation project, there are endless possibilities for creating your space and deciding how to use it. Do you want your attic to be a standalone living space with its own bathroom and kitchen? Will your attic become a playroom, office, or home gym, or an extra bedroom? Knowing how you want to use your attic will help you determine the amenities that you need to add, including the essentials, and nice to have features. Imagining your dream space can also help you as you move forward with the budgeting process.
Know the costs
With your attic wish list ready, you’ll be better informed to look at the costs for your attic renovation and set a realistic budget. The costs can vary for different attic amenities, and some features that you might consider are a skylight, windows, and plumbing for a bathroom or kitchen. You may want to create two dream versions of your attic, so that you can price out different features, as well as considering different qualities of flooring and fixtures.
Set a budget
Having a general price breakdown for your dream attic and a more realistic version can help you determine your budget. Getting a loan for a renovation is definitely possible, and you can also keep in mind that adding an attic can increase the value of your home. That means if you sell your home in Austin after you’ve added an updated attic, you could get a return on your investment. If you are creating a standalone living space, you can also consider renting your attic to make back the money on your renovation project.
Hire experts
With the prospect of making your home a construction zone during your renovation project, you’ll have peace of mind if you’ve hired professionals who you can trust. After determining your budget and your ideal attic features, you can then start searching for an expert who has the skills needed to get the job done. While you might pay more upfront to hire a professional, it will be worth it to avoid having to fix future problems.
Building your dream attic space is possible with advanced planning and the right team behind you. The result will be a space that works for you, expanded square footage, and maybe even an increased home value.