How To Prepare For A Home Addition
For Your St. Paul Home

What To Do Before Your
Home Addition

Home additions in St. Paul are a great way to increase the space, comfort, and value of your home. It’s an important home improvement project for any homeowner, and it requires many involved steps from start to finish.

It’s best to follow all of the proper precautions to ensure the process goes as smoothly as possible. From permits to planning, the following guide will give you some key information on how to prepare for a home addition.

Define Your Goals For Your Home Addition

The first step towards a successful home addition is to define your goals. There are a variety of additions you can make to your home. You can expand your living room area or add a new bedroom. Some homeowners use this as an opportunity to expand their outdoor living space through a porch or deck. Define clear goals and get a general idea of what type of addition you want for your home.

Having a clear idea of what you want can make it easier when searching for the right professional for the job. It allows you to seek out references and companies with the relevant experience to get the job done.

Create A Budget For Your Home Addition

Once you’ve figured out your goals, the next step for preparing is to create a budget. You should factor in various things for your budget, such as the cost of materials, the time it’ll take to complete the job, any costs related to permits, and repairs that may need to be done before the project can properly start.

If possible, take advantage of a budget calculator and try to account for unexpected expenses that may arise throughout the remodeling process. When working with your contractor, they should be able to give you a good general estimate of how much the project will cost.

Choose A Reliable Contractor For Home Additions

To ensure the success of any home addition project, you must find a reliable contractor. There are many companies out there that provide remodeling services, but selecting the best one can dramatically impact the success of the project. If you’ve never worked with a contractor before, make sure to ask some key questions about them and their experience.

Before working with a company, get references or look up reviews online. References are a great way to see what previous customers have to say about their experience. If they have one available, take a look at their gallery of before and after pictures. See if what they’ve worked on before is related to your vision for your current home improvement project.

Always ask your potential contractor key questions about permits, budget, timeline, and materials. A professional contractor should have no problem discussing things with you, answering your questions, and making sure you feel well-informed before making a decision.

Finally, don’t fall for high-pressure sales tactics. If a home remodeling company tries to pressure you into making a decision or going through with a project before you’re sure it’s the right choice, stay away.

Know Your Property Lines And Setbacks

Before you design anything, confirm exactly where your property lines are. Every Twin Cities municipality sets zoning rules for how close an addition can sit to your lot lines, along with limits on lot coverage and building height. Knowing those boundaries up front tells you how much room you actually have to work with, prevents encroaching on a neighbor's property, and keeps you from paying to design an addition the city won't approve. If you don't have a recent survey, it's often worth ordering one before design begins.

Choose Your Materials Early

Material selections affect both your budget and your schedule, so it pays to make them during design rather than mid-construction. For a new bedroom or living space, that means flooring — hardwood, carpet, or luxury vinyl — plus trim, windows, and lighting. A bathroom or kitchen addition adds tile, countertops, cabinetry, and fixtures. High-traffic spaces need durable, easy-to-clean surfaces, and exterior materials like siding and roofing should be matched to your existing home so the addition looks like it was always there. Finalizing selections early also gives long-lead items time to arrive, which keeps the project on track. For a realistic look at how each phase fits together, see our home addition timeline guide.

Get The Right Permits For A Home Addition

When making any significant changes to your home, you’ll need to get the proper building permits. These permits are typically related to things such as plumbing, wiring, and HVAC. Your home remodeling company should be able to help you acquire the proper permits to get started on the remodeling project. For city-by-city details, see our guide to home addition permits in the Twin Cities.

Executive Remodeling Is Here To Help You Prepare
For Your St. Paul Home Addition

At Executive Remodeling, we know that a major home improvement project is no easy task. We’ll work with you from start to finish to ensure the success of your project, from helping you with your plan to getting the necessary permits and paperwork. From materials to an experienced crew, we’re the best team in the Minneapolis-St. Paul Area for home additions.

Contact us today for your quote.