Adding Value to Your Home Ragardless of the Sacramento Housing Market #4

Add a bedroom.

Yes, you read that right. If you have an area in your house that is a wasted space and would measure at the very least 10' by 10' it is perfect for a bedroom addition. Be sure to hire an interior designer to see a well drawn out plan and do get a few quotes from professionals to get an idea what such an endeavor would cost.

Last I checked (which was about October of 2006) an outside addition of about 150 square feet complete with matching stucco and a roof was approximately $25,000. An inside addition would cost less, but be sure to check how much.

Here's how it adds value - when you add a bedroom, an appraiser has to compare your home with the rest of the homes in the neighborhood with 3 bedrooms, say - or 4. This works better if the area you live in has mixed homes - that is, if all the homes in a one mile radius have 3 bedrooms, you would probably not add as much value with a fourth bedroom as in an area that provides comparable sales with 3 and 4 bedrooms and where the extra bedroom sells for a premium. Do your homework before you decide to invest in this one!

Oh, another little known fact - for a space to be referred to as a bedroom, it must have a built in closet. Without it, the area is just a den.