Better idea to build a bigger house than you need or build what you need then add on as your family grows?

Answer 1

Depends on a few things. One is cash flow. If you can afford it, build the house bigger if you anticipate growth anyway. All the future projects will be headaches, and your house will always look like work in progress and all your additions will look like afterthoughts. From an architectural stand point, it would be a disaster. But if you can't afford the bigger house now, and I am not just talking about construction but also maintenance, it costs more to heat a bigger house, taxes will be greater, then build just what you need BUT - Plan for future additions NOW, so that when you decide to build them, they will fit in.

Answer 2

build the bigger house. You can always do with the extra rooms. Eg: when guests come over and wish to stay, you got the room and if your needing peace and quite away from the kids, you can. Yes you can move later into a bigger house if you decide to build small, but any people do get attached to the family home and don't wish to move again as that is where the kids grew up. Also the permits you may need to build an extension may not be offered in the years to come.

Answer 3

Typically, the answer is to build a bigger house than you need IF you plan to expand your family and you have the financial ability to do so now. The primary reason is that the fixed costs involved in building will cost you less per square foot to build a bigger house now than to add an addition later. Pricing will vary widely depending on where you are in the country, but to give you an example...I can build a new house for about $85 per sq. ft. To add an addition will cost about $115 per square foot. Adding on to a house involves removing load bearing walls, adding a new foundation and changing your roofline...three very expensive areas

The difference between a 1000 sq. ft foundation and a 1200 sq. foot foundation is relatively negligible. You have to pay the concrete guys and the masons all of their fixed costs regardless. A few extra yards of concrete or brick is relatively negligible. Likewise goes for lumber, electrical, plumbing...etc.

The cost to add on will always be greater than the cost to build bigger from the beginning, The question is: Do you have the financial means to do so at this time?

Answer 4

If you have the money build the bigger house. It is usually less expensive to do it all at once unless you can do the work your self.

Answer 5

That's a matter of opinion. Me I would rather build on as I could afford it. Re-sale Value? 3 or 4 bedrooms sells for more.

Answer 6

I just recently answered a Q about smaller,,, but certainly that relates to singles or childless couples.

That said however, unused space is "wasted" until it's used, though as answer one states, MORE often adds to resale value in a FAMILY market. No one truly wants to SHARE a room as a kid.

Adding on is usually not something one can recoup in a resale, as the value doesnt always increase proportionally, with relation to the expense of the add on.

Certainly part of FAMILY planning should include NOT moving with every addition, or making an addition to accomodate a plan.

Obviously not all babies are strictly planned.

Check out market trends about what sells best. 2 and 2 are the largest sellers, but not strictly viable for families.

Steven Wolf

Answer 7

The latter is more practical.