Thinking Of Adding A Master Bedroom Addition To Your Maryland Home?

This article was written to help Maryland homeowners navigate the sometimes-complex process of adding a master bedroom addition to your home.

It will discuss important aspects of the planning process, including why you should outline a budget before beginning your renovation as well as tips on choosing the right contractor for the job.

It's A Good Idea

Adding space to a home in Maryland--whether it's in areas such as Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Silver Spring, Bethesda, and Germantown, or anywhere else nearby--is a great way to not only make your home more family-friendly, but also to add value to your home.

In 2008 and 2009 the Maryland real estate market was somewhat slow, but as the market rebounds over the next couple years, homeowners that are investing now will receive handsome returns. So long as they're smart about it.

Why Outlining A Budget Is So Important

The first thing you should outline before you begin designing your new master bedroom is the budget. Developing a budget beforehand will help you narrow the range of plans you can consider; it will determine the size of your addition, as well as the materials and features you will be able to include.

When developing a budget, always add an extra 5-10% to cover unexpected costs such as higher than expected material and labor costs.

Know What You're Up Against

After you have come up with a reasonable budget for your master bedroom addition, carefully review your home's property plot plans. By reviewing these plans, you will be able to get a sense of the possible obstacles that may impede your renovation.

Your home’s property plot plans (click here if you don't know what "plot plans" are) should detail possible renovation obstacles like,

Nearby well locations
Underground utilities
Drainage easements
Septic tank location

Once you have an idea of the possible impediments, you can address these problems by altering your plans accordingly. Should you have any questions about your property, contact your local building inspector or zoning board for help.

Time to Design

Before you begin to design your new master bedroom, try making a few sketches of your proposed addition and taking some photographs of the outside of your home where you want the addition to be built.

Google has a neat tool called Sketchup which you may enjoy (it's free).

Most master bedroom additions range in size from 15x20 feet to 23x30 feet. They can take on any shape from square to oblong, and can be located on either the first or second floor of the home. Some additional to take into consideration when designing your master bedroom are,

Closet space
Window style and placement (more on replacement windows here)
Convenience area for a small desk

Purchase blueprints that are as close to your needs as possible, and take them to an architect for personalization. The blueprints you and your architect develop will include all the details needed for building your new bedroom addition. They will show the type of foundation you need, the location of the windows and electrical outlets, as well as the rafter and roof designs. Before you begin any work, make sure all of these details are indicated on the plans including,

The number of outlets you need
Where lights are to be permanently placed
Where plumbing fixtures will be located

These plans will serve as step-by-step instructions for your contractor.

Choosing Your Contractor

Adding a new master bedroom to your current home is not the kind of building project that you as a homeowner can take on alone. Walls will need to be knocked down and new plumbing may need to be installed, so your best bet is to hire a qualified contractor. Do some research to find the most qualified and licensed contractor who can do the job for a reasonable price.

You can call your state Contractors Licensing Board and the Better Business Bureau to uncover any bad reports that may have been filed against contractors in your area. Whenever possible, ask for references and try to inspect the work the contractor has done elsewhere.

When you are happy with the contractor you have chosen, begin discussing the terms of your contract. Although the contractor will have his or her own contract, you have the right to have your lawyer review it and make changes.

Some of the information that must be listed on the contract includes:

Contractor's name, address, phone number, and license number
Start and end dates for the project
Detailed description of project
Costs for the project, including any permit fees
Payment schedule
Contractor's warranty policy and manufacturer's warranty information
Insurance requirements

Always make sure that you read and understand the contract. When you have questions, have the contractor answer them in writing. If the contract requires an upfront payment in full or payment in cash, those are big red flags; you may want to consider another contractor.

When You're Ready To Start Interviewing Contractors in Maryland

If you're a homeowner near Maryland, Columbia, Ellicott City, Annapolis, Silver Spring, and other nearby towns and cities, and you enjoyed this article, consider contacting Cunningham Contracting when you're ready to move forward with your master bedroom addition.

We are a well-respected local General Contractor in Maryland with over 25 years of experience remodeling whole homes, bathrooms, kitchens, and building home additions.

At Cunningham all of our work is quality craftsmanship guaranteed. We also provide timely work at a reasonable cost. Our goal is to make renovating your home fun and easy. Read what one of our clients had to say about our work:

"Last year I had Cunningham Contracting, Inc. come out to my house to do a master bedroom addition, and I could not have been more pleased with their work.

They listened to what I wanted and designed a master bedroom that exceeded all of my expectations. The contractors were knowledgeable about their work and were always happy to answer any questions I had.

I would definitely recommend Cunningham Contracting, Inc. to anyone looking to add a new master bedroom to their home."

Robin Richards, Annapolis, MD

What Else Is There To Think About?

Cunningham can make your dream renovation come true, smoothly and easily. We sit down with all of our clients and listen to their needs in order to assist them in the designing of their new space. We also have a well-known reputation for quality staff and work.

If you’re thinking about renovating, call Cunningham Contracting, Inc. for more information or a free estimate at 410-721-8757. Alternatively, you can contact us using this form on our website.

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