Home building. Additions. ADUs. Real guidance.
Adding space to your home is exciting — and overwhelming. Permits. Contractors. Budgets. Timelines. Fleming Builds helps you navigate home construction projects from start to finish: garage conversions, accessory dwelling units, sunrooms, and full home additions. We explain what to expect, how much things actually cost, and where homeowners make expensive mistakes. No industry jargon. Just straight talk.
Planning a Home Addition — Four Things You Need to Know
1. Understand the real costs before you start
Average home addition costs two hundred to five hundred dollars per square foot. ADUs run one hundred fifty to three hundred dollars per square foot. Garages are cheaper — fifty to one hundred thirty dollars per square foot. Get three bids. Add twenty percent for surprises.
2. Permits are not optional
Unpermitted work kills resale value. Banks won’t lend on it. Inspectors can make you tear it out. Permit fees are one to five percent of project cost. Just pay them.
3. Choose the right contractor — or don’t
General contractors charge fifteen to twenty five percent for project management. That’s fair for complex jobs. For a simple garage conversion, you might act as your own GC. Know your limits.
4. Plan for heating and cooling early
Adding a room means adding climate control. Ducted AC requires running new lines — expensive and invasive. Mini-splits work well for single rooms. Some low-energy options exist for small spaces like home offices, sunrooms, or converted garages that don’t need whole-house cooling. Decide before drywall goes up.
Why Fleming Builds
Homeowner-first — We’re not contractors selling you anything.
Real cost data — No fake estimates. Just current market numbers.
Mistake-focused — Learn from what others got wrong.
What homeowners say
“Your cost per square foot guide saved me. One contractor bid four hundred. Another bid two twenty for the same job.” — Nina S., ADU builder
“I was about to skip permits for my garage conversion. Your article convinced me otherwise. It cost more but saved me at resale.” — Mark D., homeowner
Get your free home addition planning checklist — permits, budget, timeline. No email required.