By Heidi Powell
If you’ve been dreaming of putting an addition on your home fall is a good time to start planning for next spring and summer. The design and planning process for most additions usually takes between four and six months.
Factors that can shorten or lengthen this design/planning process include: the scope of the project and number of rooms that will be impacted, how straightforward the design is, how quickly you as the homeowner make decisions and selections, and how long the permitting process takes.
The summer months in particular book up quickly so it’s best to get on your contractor’s schedule as soon as possible. Particularly, if you’re thinking about an addition that involves taking off the roof of your house, you’ll want one of the precious few mid-summer openings.
Most contractors fill their openings on a first come first serve basis. It’s not until all your decisions are made and the estimate is approved that the contractor can give you a firm start date. If a bank is going to be involved it’s important to get them in the loop as soon as possible. The lender will help you determine your target budget so that you can choose a plan and make selections that work for your budget.
Plan ahead so you can breeze through the design stage of your project and be assured the time frame that you’re hoping for. An addition is a huge improvement to your home and it merits thought and careful preparation to make sure it will be everything you dream.