In my last article, "planning a new platform," shows steps for planning a new deck. This article goes a step further. Let's see how to actually start building your deck. I'm assuming at this point in the hands of your building permits, a good set olue of your home little-to-none and that can actually be a liability when you try to sell your home. The key to successful attic remodels in B-town is knowing the difference between hitting it rich and paying out for fools gold.
If you are considering attic remodeling in Baltimore, start thinking bedrooms.
While successful attic remodels in Baltimore can include play rooms, home offices, and even extra space for rec rooms or entertainment areas, the key to making them pay off is meeting your local city, county, and state codes for bedroom areas. When potential homebuyers look at a home, they're most often looking at whether the space can be used as an extra bedroom or not. If they can legally use your office, kids playroom, or exercise space as a bedroom, they're much more likely to count your Baltimore attic renovation as a plus as opposed to a wasted space they'll have to be creative with when they move in.
You may be thinking we're splitting hairs here, but the difference between a bedroom and a home office from an official standpoint isn't just a matter of preference, it's an architectural and safety issue. Don't think Baltimoreans walked away empty handed from the great Fire of 1904. That fire burnt for 30 hours, took over 1,200 fire fighters to put out, and burned down over 1,500 buildings. Amazingly almost nobody was killed, but Baltimoreans learned not to take any chances.
While building codes differ from city to city and county to county, bedrooms in Maryland generally require that you provide an avenue for escape in case of fire or other emergency. That means a window large enough for residents to crawl out of and to provide an access point for emergency personnel to get in. There are exceptions to that rule, if you're looking for other options. Working sprinkler systems and second doorways into rooms that do have escape routes can also provide the needed egress points required by most building codes.
By incorporating these design components into any attic remodeling project in Baltimore, you incrementally increase the value the remodel adds to your home. he recommendation to build attic remodels in Baltimore to meet bedroom code requirements isn't based on a whim. According to Remodeling Magazine's 2006 Cost vs. Value Report, attic remodeling in Baltimore and the rest of the South Eastern Atlantic Region is second only to basement remodels when it comes to remodeling projects that pay you back once the project is finished.
While kitchen and bathroom remodels logged in at return rates between 86% and 89%, bedroom attic remodels in Baltimore and the rest of the region registered at 90%. That means if you pay out for a $35,000 attic renovation in Baltimore, you can expect it to immediately improve the value of your home by $31,000. Add in home appreciation rates over time, and it's clear that when it comes to attic remodeling in Baltimore, choosing a bedroom oriented plan is the best way to make your money back when you sell your home.
Compare that to turning your attic into a simple home office with a return of under 70%, and it's easy to see why going the extra mile and including an escape route is well worth the extra investment up front.