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In the current economy, home buyers are looking for more square footage and increased livable space. Here's a look at home addition costs, and the value it can bring at selling time.

Give Me Space! The Value of Home Addition

According to Remodeling magazine's 2009-2010 Cost vs. Value Report, remodels simply aren't getting the returns that they used to. Overall, returns are much lower than they've been in the recent past, with only a handful of projects being smart investments this year.

Projects that make financial sense right now have to do with getting more for less--more energy efficiency, more performance, more living space, and more convenience. Although this is in many ways a buyers market, the homes that have been improved and offer more for less are simply selling faster. This is why a home addition can be a valuable improvement.

The Additions That Add Value

Not all additions are alike. Those that add livable square footage, such as attic or basement bedrooms and decks, are more valuable than remodels done to existing spaces. For example, adding a basement bedroom can cost almost $50,000, but it adds nearly $41,000 in value, bringing an almost unheard of 83.1 percent return on investment.

It seems also that certain additions are more popular in certain regions. South Atlantic states' residents are more interested in paying for additional living spaces than New Englanders, for example.

Additions that aren't seeing such good returns at the moment include bathroom, sunroom, and garage additions, while family rooms, bedrooms, decks, and master suites are more rewarding. Among those, minor and mid-range additions offer greater value than upscale ones.

Adding Value Without the High Home Addition Cost

Because there are so many options when it comes to home addition, it's hard to offer an average cost. As an example, the average family room addition can range from about $50,000-$90,000, averaging around $70,000. That cost is comprised of mechanical work (wet bar anyone?), fireplaces, floor coverings, moldings, windows, furniture, and simple square footage. And here's a tip: cost per square footage tends to decline with quantity, so it may be more cost-effective to make a bigger room.

Want to add a room, but can't spare $70,000? Try to find large spaces in your home that could be enclosed to create another room. Closing off a half-wall to create another bedroom may only cost a few hundred dollars, but add tens of thousands in selling value.

• Rooms to be added - for example, a living room or bedroom is going to be more expensive than a garage addition, but much cheaper than a bathroom or kitchen addition
• The design of the addition - simple design versus more complicated
• Cost of the materials and fixtures you select - flooring, windows, doors, tile, etc.
• Who will be doing the work. Are you planning to do some of the work yourself, or will all the work be contracted out?
• Location - labor rates of contractors may vary greatly countrywide
• The contractor you hire - contractors’ quotes can vary by 10-30% for work of similar quality.