 A Room of One’s Own
Room additions can be a nightmare or a dream come true: Carefully consider the facts before you begin
by Mary Anne Cole
photography by Robert French
Casa Linda remodeling took a small, closed-in space, opened up walls and created large, adjoining living and dining areas for a San Antonio
family that had outgrown its small rooms.
You love your home. You love your neighborhood and your neighbors, and the kids are settled into a good school. But it would be so much better if it had a little extra space so you could move your home office out of the laundry room, or enjoy the back yard and the sunset without the bugs and the heat or have a real master suite where the two of you could retreat for a quiet glass of wine or a good book in front of a private fireplace. You pull out a piece of paper and start to doodle, and before long, you’ve drawn yourself a new addition. But before you go any further, there are some important questions you need to consider.
Would it be better to move or add on?
If you’re not wild about your neighborhood, this may be a no-brainer. But if you like the area you’re in, you can still weigh adding on against moving to a different house in the same neighborhood. Those who have never lived through a remodel will assume it’s got to be easier than moving; but dust, workers, noise and the disruption of daily life make many people who have decided to remodel say “never again,” or at least vow to move into a hotel next time. So if you’re deciding whether to move or add on, don’t assume one will necessarily be easier than the other.
“If you’re younger and this isn’t your last home,” says Bob Earl of Casa Linda Remodeling, “you might be better served to buy a new home that specifically suits your needs. Especially if the neighborhood isn’t holding its value, it’s a good idea to move. On the other side, if it’s your last home and you’re more concerned with the comfort, convenience and familiarity of the neighborhood, not with getting the money back from the addition, an addition can be the best choice. In that case, the emotional investment in the neighborhood is more important than the financial investment.”
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