Should I create an addition, backyard cottage, or remodel?
Every day, homeowners approach us with questions about how they can improve the value of their property. They all know they want to change their homes in some way, but not everyone knows the best approach. So many people who contact us ask, “Should I do an addition, a backyard cottage, or a remodel?”
That depends on several factors, the most important of which are (1) what the existing property is like, and (2) what the owner’s plans for the future are.
Some homeowners want to remodel their existing homes to add an office, enlarge the kitchen, or turn some of the rooms into a private suite for loved ones. Others want to build a cottage in their backyard so they can live there and move their children and grandchildren into the main home. Some want to build an addition, increasing the square footage and usable space of an existing home.
To help homeowners decide, we start every project with 30 questions.
When you get started with New Avenue, you can skim these questions and answer a few of them in five minutes, or you can spend an hour working through them all. We recommend you spend about 15 minutes, allowing yourself time to think but not getting bogged down if you find yourself stuck.
These questions are based on thousands of past client meetings. We also collect feedback during construction changes and figure out what we have to ask early on in the process so we can avoid making costly mistakes.
A client recently contacted us with some questions about what to do with their home. They are in their 60s and want to make a long-term plan for how to use their home.
Here are a few of our questions and their answers. Their full design proposal is below, too:
Q: What do you want to do?
A: We would like to add a rental unit to our existing 2-story, 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath home. We really do not know if we should do an addition or add a cottage/tiny house to the backyard, so we need help.
Q: What are you using this new space for?
A: We would like to rent it out either as a sublet or Airbnb for extra income.
Q: If applicable, what is the 25–50 year plan for your project? For example, you may be renting out an in-law unit and moving in later.
A: We are not really sure. We could move into the new unit eventually. We are in our 60s, so we hope it’s a 50-year plan. (:-)).
After reviewing all of the answers and questions they submitted in their Goals & Ideas questionnaire on our software platform, one of our local designers met with them and provided a Design Proposal.
We’re excited that they quickly approved the proposal. Design is beginning this summer.
To get this project started, the owners:
Signed up to use the New Avenue system.
Filled out the Goals & Ideas survey on Newavenuehomes.com
Set up a call with a New Avenue project admin to review the design/build process
Paid $250 to have a Design Session with a vetted New Avenue designer
Met with the designer
Received a Design Proposal and clicked “approve”
You don’t have to know exactly what you want to get your project started. We’re here to help you discover your goals and make them happen. Get started today. Your first step is to contact us.