Adding Square Footage May Not Make Your House More Sellable. Here's Why

When you're trying to sell your home, a lot of factors go into making it more attractive to buyers and upping its market value. Next to the perfect location, square footage is one of the main elements affecting the price you might be able to sell your home for. That's why many homeowners might be tempted to expand their properties before putting their homes on the market. But adding square footage to your home won't necessarily increase its value, as bigger doesn't always mean more functional.

Before building a home addition, consider if the type of space you're adding is something your home truly needs. Additions shouldn't be there just for the sake of it or to push up your total square footage, as their true value lies in their purpose. If expanding your home doesn't make it more livable or solve a deficiency within your current space, it probably won't be worth the investment when the day to sell your home rolls around.

When considering square footage upgrades to raise a home's value, think about what function the new space will serve within your home. For example, extra bedrooms are a popular choice, as they instantly boost livable space within your home and make it suitable for smaller and bigger families alike. Bathrooms are another option with high value potential, as they offer a more comfortable living experience with added privacy. Another example of a useful room you should have that will boost your home value is a home office, as it provides a dedicated space for work to boost your home's functionality.

However, even when your additional spaces have a specific purpose, they might not always make sense in the home as a whole. For example, an extra bedroom is only a valuable addition if your current bedroom count is modest. Going from two to three bedrooms isn't the same as adding yet another room to a home that already has four or five. In the latter case, a new bedroom won't make that much of a difference — or bring your home that much added value. 

The same goes for bathrooms: If your home already has enough bathrooms for the whole family and then some, adding another one probably won't up your home's price as much as you think it will. Similarly, a single household usually doesn't need more than one home office. For the best results, put your home's actual needs over your wishes for the space, and enjoy seeing your home's value increase.