• Add extra space to your cramped home.Modern elegant kitchen image by MAXFX from Fotolia.com
  
  Building an addition to your home is a wonderful way to revamp your space and create more room. While not simple, the process of placing an addition on your current structure can both make your home more comfortable for your family and increase your property value. Before you undertake the task, though, consider some important facts about the process.
  
  

Expect a Long Process

• Renovators who expect the addition of extra space to be simple and quick will likely be sorely disappointed. Before you get started, resign yourself to a long process full of work and mess. If you prepare yourself in advance for the fact that home additions are not easy, you will likely be less frustrated as you move through the process.
  
  

Make a List of Goals

• Planning and building your addition is more economical if you have your design down before construction begins. Make a list of goals for your new space. Compose this list prior to speaking with your first contractor to ensure that you have taken the time to think through the process.
  
  

Acquire Permits Prior to Beginning

• Permit issues can spell disaster for a home addition, and failure to obtain a permit prior to the commencement of building could result in troublesome delays. Work with your contractor to learn about permit laws in your area and move through the permit process. In some areas, permits are hard to obtain. Getting this step over with at the beginning will save you a headache later.
  
  

Interview Contractors

• The contractor you ultimately select to complete your project will spend copious amounts of time in and around your home. Instead of making a hasty choice, research contractors and then interview them to determine which individual you would feel most comfortable working with over the long term. Careful contractor selection is pivotal to project success.
  
  

Require Written Agreements

• Because home additions require the exchange of large sums of money, it is always wise to seek written agreements. In the absence of such documentation, you have little recourse if things don't work out as planned. Insist on written agreements from anyone working on the project, stipulating time frame and cost prior to moving forward with each step of the process.