Need More Space in the Future? Here’s How to Find a Home With Room to Grow

You might not need a lot of space now—but that can definitely change in the future. For example, maybe you’re buying a home as a single person—but have plans to have a family in the future. Or maybe you already have a family—but plan to add more children (or pets!) to that family in the coming years.

Whatever the situation, you may need a larger home in the future. And while moving to a new home is always an option, another option is to look for a home that has the potential for growth—and more square footage—in the future.

But how, exactly, do you do that?

A recent article from realtor.com outlined key strategies on how to find a home with room to grow, including:

• Do your research. Many smaller homes have the potential to add more square footage down the line. But others don’t—so before you put an offer in on a home, make sure to do your research and check with the local municipality to determine the maximum allowable size of the home. Otherwise, you could find yourself stuck in a too-small space without the option to grow.
• Consider your options for adding space to the home… If you’re looking for space to grow into your home, it’s important to consider all the options—and see which makes the most sense for the property you’re considering. For example, if you’re looking at a single-story home, adding a second story could give you the extra square footage you need. Or, if you’re looking for a smaller renovation project, you could consider adding a loft. If you’re more concerned with having more livable space (as opposed to adding more square footage), you could look for a home with a large bedroom—and then add a wall to transform that one large bedroom into two smaller ones. The point is, there are a lot of ways to grow and expand different properties—so when you’re looking at homes, make sure you’re considering all the options.
• …or by adding space with an ADU. If a home doesn’t have the potential to grow that you’re looking for, it may not necessarily mean it’s not the right property for you. If the home has a large backyard, you could also build a free-standing accessory dwelling unit (also known as an ADU) to get the extra square footage you’re looking for—and use the ADU as an office space, guest suite, or playroom.