For many of us, the pandemic has changed our lives quite a bit. We have learned how to work effectively from home, and many employers have determined that it is acceptable for their employees to work from home on a more permanent basis going forward. This is great news for most people. There is a new-found freedom with work schedules, and we are able to be available for friends and family more often because we are spending less time commuting to and from work.
Of course, this has also forced us to reconsider our living situation. Many homes that were suitable under the typical pre-COVID work schedules are not as ideal for someone working from home on a full-time basis. This leads people to contemplate their options. They could sell the current home and find a new place that has a layout more suitable for the work-from-home lifestyle. Or, they could make modifications to the existing home with the intention of staying there long-term.
Before you go too far with plans to build an addition, make sure to check with an expert regarding the local Zoning By Laws in order to be certain that your property is well-suited for expansion. In Rhode Island, the state has delegated most of the Zoning By Law particulars to the municipality. This is great because it allows each town to make rules and regulations that suit the particular city or town and its respective neighborhoods. However, it can be tough to determine what a property owner can and cannot do when the regulations vary by town. Sometimes, they can even vary by neighborhood.
Here is a bit of a guide to help you understand where to start when considering building an addition on your home.
- Make sure you know where your home is located on the Town Zoning Map. Each property is located in a specific zone that has its own rules and regulations that determine what you can and can’t do with the property.
- Some of the most common factors will be the setback requirements for structures within the particular zone. Those requirements will call for a specific distance that is required between any structure on the property and the property line or boundary. The distance between the front of the house and the front property line, the back of the house, and the back property line, as well as the distance between the house and its side yard property line, will all be factors to consider in the early stages of planning for an addition.
- Most zoning regulations also call for a particular “lot coverage ratio” for each property located within the particular zone. The lot coverage ratio relates to the amount of surface area that structures can cover on a given lot in relation to the total size of the lot itself. For example, a lot coverage ratio of 25% might apply in some places. This means that on a 10,000 square foot lot, the amount of building footprint that covers the lot cannot exceed a total of 2,500 square feet.
- Other restrictions such as the maximum height of a structure or the elevation of a structure within a floodplain can also be major contributing factors when considering an addition to your home.
If you are considering an addition to your property and have questions related to this topic, we are always happy to chat. In addition to our own experience and knowledge base, we have a great team of professionals that we can engage on your behalf to understand properly what you are considering buying or what you have available to sell.
New to the Market
The following active properties are new to the market in the last seven days. There have been quite a few other properties that were brought to market in the last seven days, but many of them are already under contract. This list represents those properties that were listed within the last seven days and still remain in an active / available status today. For an immediate and instant update on properties as they hit the market, sign up for market updates on our website and receive the most accurate and immediate information available.
Barrington
- 53 Maple Avenue: $355,000
- 520 Middle Highway: $469,900
- 20 Williams Street: $479,000
- 6 Western Avenue: $469,900
- 18 Nathaniel Road: $650,000
Bristol
- 3 Weetamoe Farm Drive: $425,000
Warren
- 21 Asselin Street: $294,000
- 147 Water Street: $369,000
Portsmouth
- 1115 Anthony Road: $1,099,000
East Side of Providence
- 14 Fifth Street: $389,000
- 850 852 Hope Street: $549,999
- 2 Angell Street, #2: $1,199,000
- 76 Prospect Street: $1,295,000
If you have any interest in seeing these properties or others, we would love to hear from you. The properties featured today are just a sampling of opportunities currently on the market. Feel free to contact us via phone or email, or click below to schedule a quick 15 minute phone call so we can hear more about your real estate goals.
About Chart House Realtors
Written by Matthew Antonio, Team Leader for Chart House Realtors in Barrington, RI.
Chart House Realtors combines the best aspects of size and scale. We are a small boutique firm with 8 full-time, local members. We operate out of our office in Barrington, RI conducting business throughout RI and MA. We are also affiliated with Keller Williams, which is the largest real estate brand in the world, with more agents, more sales and more reach than any other real estate company. So, our clients get the best of both worlds!
Our small, local size gives us the ability to craft a unique personalized plan for each and every client. At the same time, the size and scale of Keller Williams allows us to reach buyers and sellers on a national and international level. Year-to-date, Chart House is ranked among the top 1% in sales across all agents in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
If you are considering buying or selling property anywhere in Southern New England, we would love to hear from you.