Home Addition vs. Moving: What Atlanta Homeowners Should Consider

 At some point, a lot of homeowners find themselves having the same conversation:

“We need more space. Do we renovate, or do we just move?”

Maybe the kids are getting older and everyone needs a little more room. Maybe you're working from home now and the dining room has somehow turned into your permanent office. You may have parents who will eventually live with you, or maybe your kitchen and family room simply don't work for the way you live anymore.

Whatever the reason, you've reached the point where your house doesn't quite fit your life.

Moving may seem like the obvious answer. But if you love your neighborhood, your location and the home you've already put years into, it's worth asking another question first:

What if you could make your current home work for you instead?

Experience Matters - Especially in Construction

Before You Move, Think About Why You Want to Leave

This is usually where we tell homeowners to start.

Is the problem really your house, or is it the amount of space and the way that space is being used?

Those are two very different things.

If you love your neighborhood, your children's schools, your yard, your commute and the community around you, moving means giving all of that up just to solve a space problem.

And finding another home doesn't necessarily mean finding the perfect home. You may end up buying a larger house only to discover that the kitchen needs updating, the primary bathroom isn't what you wanted, or the layout still doesn't fit your family.

Sometimes it makes more sense to take a home you already love and make it better.

For homeowners considering home additions in Atlanta, the first step isn't necessarily deciding what to build. It's understanding what your existing home could become.

What Could You Do With the Space?

This is the fun part, because homeowners are often surprised by what's possible.

An addition doesn't have to mean adding a huge wing to the side of your house. Depending on your home and property, there are many ways to create additional living space.

You might add a larger family room off the kitchen, build a new primary suite, create an in-law or guest suite, add a home office, finish the space above a garage, or even add a second story.

Sometimes we look at a home and realize that the owners don't need as much additional square footage as they thought. Changing the existing layout and adding space in the right places can completely change how a house feels.

That's why we believe the planning stage is so important.

One Team. One Vision. From Design Through Construction.

A Good Addition Shouldn't Look Like an Addition

This is something we care about a lot at Ambiance Atlanta.

You shouldn't be able to stand outside a finished home and immediately say, “That's the part they added later.”

The new portion of the house should belong there.

That means paying attention to things like the roofline, windows, brick or siding, proportions and architectural details. Inside, the same idea applies. Flooring, ceiling heights, trim, doorways and the flow from the original house into the new space all matter.

The goal isn't just to give you more square footage.

The goal is to make the entire house better.

That takes thoughtful design and careful construction, especially when you're working with an older or established home.

A well-planned Atlanta home remodeling project should respect the character of the existing house while giving the homeowner the space and functionality they need today.

We Listen Before We Design

Then There Is the Cost of Moving

Of course, budget is going to be part of the decision.

People sometimes compare the cost of an addition with the difference in price between their current house and a larger one. But that's not really the whole picture.

Selling and moving come with other expenses. There may be real estate commissions, closing costs, moving expenses, repairs needed before listing your current home and improvements you want to make after purchasing the next one.

And after all of that, the new house still may not be exactly what you want.

A renovation or addition is also a significant investment, and it won't make sense for every homeowner or every property. But the difference is that you're investing that money into creating something specifically for the way you want to live.

So instead of asking only, “Which one is cheaper?” we encourage homeowners to think about a bigger question:

Where do we actually want to be five or ten years from now?

Your Property Will Help Determine What's Possible

Before you fall in love with an idea you saw online, it's important to understand what can actually be done with your particular home.

Every property is different.

Lot size, setbacks, zoning, drainage, utilities, the existing foundation and structure, roof design and local building requirements can all affect what's possible.

For one house, expanding into the backyard may make perfect sense. For another, going up with a second-story additionmay be the better solution. In some cases, we may find that reworking the existing floor plan solves much of the problem without adding as much square footage as the homeowner originally expected.

This is one of the reasons we like to get involved early in the process. It's much easier to talk through what's realistic before a homeowner spends months planning something that may not work for the property.

For homeowners in Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Sandy Springs, John’s Creek, Milton, Dunwoody and surrounding communities, local building requirements and the characteristics of the property can play an important role in determining the best approach.

Craftsmanship Is in the Details

Think About Your Family Five or Ten Years From Now

When you're making a major investment in your home, try not to design only for what you need today.

Think ahead.

Will your children need more privacy as they get older?

Will you continue working from home?

Could an aging parent eventually live with you?

Do you plan to stay in this home after retirement?

These questions can change the way an addition should be designed.

For example, a first-floor guest suite might work beautifully for visitors today and potentially become a comfortable space for a parent later. A bathroom can be designed with accessibility in mind without looking like an “accessible bathroom.”

Good planning gives a home flexibility.

So…Should You Move or Add On?

There isn't one right answer.

For some families, moving really is the better choice. Maybe the neighborhood no longer works for them, the property has limitations, or they're ready for a completely different kind of home.

But if you find yourself saying:

“We love this house. We just wish it had…”

That's a conversation worth having before you put it on the market.

Maybe you need another bedroom.

Maybe you need a larger kitchen and family room.

Maybe you need a private suite for your parents.

Or maybe you don't know exactly what you need yet—you just know the house isn't working anymore.

That's okay too.

At Ambiance Atlanta, we help homeowners look at their existing homes differently. Sometimes that means a structural addition. Sometimes it means a major renovation or a new layout. And sometimes the best solution is something the homeowner hadn't considered at all.

We've been building and remodeling homes throughout the Atlanta area for more than 20 years, and one thing we've learned is that every house—and every family—is different.

Before you decide that you've outgrown your home, let's see if your home can grow with you.

Thinking About Adding More Space to Your Atlanta Home?

If you're considering a home addition, second-story addition or major renovation, we'd be happy to sit down with you, look at your home and talk about what's possible.

Contact Ambiance Atlanta to schedule a consultation.