Kizzy's For Sale by Owner Selling Tip #9
Space always seems to be a problem, we live in a age where bigger is better. Converting your attic to an additional living space or bedroom will definitely increase the want and value of your home. Now this suggestion will only help those who have the proper starting ground.
The first thing you want to ask yourself is, do I have enough space? Most building departments require at least 7 to 8 feet in height. These spacious attics are more commonly seen in older Victorian types of homes. If you are close to reaching this height, you might be able to install some large windows that extend from your roof to resolve the issue. On the other hand, if your ceilings are 6 feet or under, this project is not for you, it would be far to expensive to try to increase the height of your roof.
The second main concern is the entrance way. Do you have a stairway already, or is there just a crawl hole? It is very important to make the new room feel like it belongs, and you don't want the stair way to look awkward or out of place.
In most cases you will need a building contractor to come in and check out your ceiling joists. They probably will either need to be replaced or may need to have some extra support beams added, this is important because they will be supporting much more weight then they were intended to hold.
Once all this is done, all that is left to do is the finishing touches, such as flooring, sheet rocking, windows, molding, etc... and don't forget to get a permit! This project should cost between $10,000 to $15,000, but once its done it will increase the value and selling power of your home.
Kizzy Kizzillion
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