volume-42-2015

For Advertising Call: 270-806-0013
Page 3
A family room is one of the most
straightforward additions you can
build with a relatively large payback
- and it’ll completely transform your
home.
Of all the additions you can put on a
home — from a master bathroom to a
mudroom to a laundry room — a family
room may provide the biggest bang for
the buck. In part that’s because the job
doesn’t include any pricy plumbing
fixtures, stone surfaces, or major
appliances, so the costs are comparatively
low per square foot.
The classic scenario that calls for a family
room addition is a house with a small- or
medium-sized kitchen that’s segregated
from formal living and dining rooms by
interior walls. But there are often lowercost
alternatives: You may be able to
avoid a full addition project by simply
knocking down some interior walls
($2,000 to $8,000 per wall, depending on
whether it’s bearing or contains plumbing
and electrical supply lines)—as long as
Evaluate Your House For A Family Room Addition
This complete remodel combines three small rooms, for the ultimate use
of space for everyday functionality as well as holiday entertaining.
you’re willing to turn those formal spaces
into everyday rooms.
Or, if that’s not feasible, because of
stairways or other complications, the
family room doesn’t have to be adjacent to
the kitchen. You may be able to create the
space by finishing the basement or using a
spare bedroom or a bonus room over the
garage. “Those are far more cost-effective
ways to get your family room,” says
Missoula, Mont., appraiser Bryan
Flaherty.
Still, even in this market, Flaherty says an
addition may be worth the investment. If
family rooms are common among similar
houses in your neighborhood, the house
doesn’t have other major salability
drawbacks, and you’re not selling for
three to five years, it’s a fairly safe
investment. “After all, even if you only
get half the cost back when you sell, that
means you’re getting all those years to
enjoy the room for 50 cents on the dollar,”
Flaherty says.
Home Remodeling Return On Investment Chart
Kentucky - Tennessee - Indiana Area
After
Design decisions
Since the goal of a family room is to
provide an open, useful gathering space,
this is not a project that calls for too many
bells and whistles. Still, there are a few
design strategies to keep in mind, says
Matt Davitt, a design/build contractor in
West Kingston, R.I.
“We like to put in a lot of glass,” he says,
“with numerous windows, French doors,
and a patio space right outside for indooroutdoor
entertaining.” Cathedral ceilings
are also popular because they provide a
feeling of spaciousness. Other top features
include gas-burning fireplaces and flat
screen televisions with ceiling-mounted
speakers.
Written By: Oliver Marks
Article Continued on Page 5
Call 270-617-3777
To Place Your Ad In The
Bargain Browser & Coupon Clipper
Visit Our Web Site For
100's Of Magazines At Great Prices!
www.BargainBrowserDeals.com