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MILWAUKEE/NARI EXPLAINS HOW HOME ADDITIONS CAN GIVE A HOUSE A NEW LEASE ON LIFE
July 7, 2009

An addition to a house is one of the largest home remodeling projects available to homeowners.  The prospect of an addition is tempting because, without moving to a new address or paying for a new house, homeowners can enjoy what feels like a different home.  Often, the cost can be recouped when the home is sold.  Plus, the addition is 100% chosen by the homeowner and reflects personal wishes and style.

Members of the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, Inc., the area's leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource for more than 47 years, offer guidance on putting an addition on a home.

Reasons To Build An Addition
Personal fulfillment and return on investment are some advantages of building an addition.  “You get the opportunity to customize an addition to your liking, ” says Thomas Weiher, CR, CKBR, Milwaukee/NARI President and owner of Carmel Builders of Menomonee Falls.  “You do this for yourself, not the next owner. You do this when you’re going to stay in the house a while.”

Weiher adds, “There is a definite value increase in the house because you’re adding square footage and making the improvements connected to the addition.  You’re enhancing the curb appeal.  Sometimes, you’re re-siding or re-roofing the whole house, adding energy-efficient windows to the whole house, and adding other energy-efficient material.  This ties in with tax credits available now, and rebates through the state Focus on Energy program.”

Changing lifestyles sometimes dictate a change in a residence.  Chris Stebnitz, partner at Stebnitz Builders, Inc. in Delavan, points out that some homeowners often change their home to support a new lifestyle, whether it’s entertaining now out-of-town adult children when they visit, or making space for an aging parent whose lifestyle is also changing.  He emphasizes the importance of the “perfecting the art of listening” so that a client’s needs are clearly understood and the addition achieves the homeowner’s goals.

A change in the number of people living in the house can prompt plans for an addition.  Some empty nesters say they deserve a master suite, and additions come as a reward.  Other additions are a necessity because of an expanding family – more kids need more bedroom space.

Housing elderly parents is the most common reason to add on to a home.  “There’s more of an awakening now to in-law suites,” Weiher notes.  “If you have aging parents who want to invest in a place to stay, it makes sense to invest in their child’s home, increase the value of the property, create convenience for the caregivers, keep the family together, and ultimately have something to show for it in property value.  It doesn’t work for all families but there’s a lot of close-knit families who do want that kind of circumstance.”

Local Trends
In the Milwaukee area, Stebnitz sees a trend: first-floor additions.  “From the perspective of the project itself, people are looking to move to the first floor.  It’s a trend to have the majority of the living happening on the first floor.  They use the second floor as additional space, for nonessentials, and maybe an office.  If something were to happen, the essentials are located on the main floor and nobody has to go up the stairs,” he says.

Stebnitz, a CGR (Certified Graduate Remodeler) and CAPS (Certified Aging in Place Specialist), has noticed another trend – aging-friendly homes.  “Just because you’re getting older doesn’t mean you have to move out of your house where you have your independence.  A first-floor addition could be one way to keep the house aging-friendly,” he states.

With helpful features added, one day the home will be saleable to a larger group of people who also need these features, Stebnitz explains.  These elements could include ramps to entrances, wider hallways, wider and barrier-free doorways, lever handles on cabinets and doors, rocker switches instead of traditional light switches, and accessible lavatories and showers.

Homeowner Concerns
Jeff Hurst, president of Alpha Home Builders, Inc. in Brookfield, notes that customers often ask about the duration of the addition construction.  “The project gives them a good feeling about updating or improving their home.  But they want to know, ‘how long is this going to take?’  Some get concerned about the length of the project, dust, and noise.”  The answer: The time needed varies with the extent of the project, from a few weeks to four months, Hurst says.

To reassure customers and reduce their apprehension, Hurst emphasizes that he is working with their individual family home in mind, and is not regarding it as just “a project” or a job.

The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council was chartered in July 1961, as a Chapter of the National Home Improvement Council.  In May of 1982, the National Home Improvement Council merged with the National Remodelers Association to form NARI - the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

The Council's goals of encouraging ethical conduct, professionalism, and sound business practices in the remodeling industry have led to the remodeling industry's growth and made NARI a recognized authority in that industry.  With over 900 members, the Milwaukee Chapter is the nation's largest.

For more information or to receive a free copy of an annual membership roster listing all members alphabetically and by category, and the booklet, “Milwaukee/NARI’s Remodeling Guide,” call (414) 771-4071 or visit the Council’s Web site at www.milwaukeenari.org.