So Joe and I are thinking of expanding on our wideline cape and making this our dreamhome! We love the area so much and would love to add onto our home to make it 'OUR home!' Anyone have any ideas? We are thinking of making it 30% - 40% larger. Right now we have a detached garage which takes up lots of prop in the back. We want to attach it to the side of the house and build a formal dining room behind that (off the kitchen), and add a whole big room on top of that (off the master bedroom). Anyone have any ideas or pics of what you have done to your cape? This is all long term but I always like to see variations of what people have done to their capes!
shelzyp
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
From what I ahve seen, you are better off doing this then buying a new home.
My neighbor ripped down all walls except one, and built a huge house on his. It cost him 350, and if he would have bought that smae house new, it would have cost him 750,000
joeslauren
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
Yeah - I think so. The more investigating I do, the more I am seeing this is the way to go. We already bought the land with the house, and land will only get mooe and more expensive. This is the only way to 'get ahead' and not put yourself so financially in hock.
LizD
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
A friend of mine has a regular ranch and they are building up. They got an architect (sp) and went over what they want and had plans drawn up. They are going to start this spring.
joeslauren
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
Wow! I've seen when they add a second floor to ranches and they look amazing! Someone on my parents' block in Mass Pk just did that and you would never have known that it was a ranch made colonial. Looks great! I'm dying to have someone come and and show me what can be done to the house. Do you know if they charge you for the consultation?
Donna
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
I'm not exactly sure what a wideline cape, but I have family in Levittown and when you drive around the neighborhood all you see are people building up, out (closer to the street, adding a porch etc) If you live close you should drive around and check out the home. I know the name of their street has blue in it
joeslauren
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
Donna - thanks! I live in East Meadow so I am very close! Fm if you can! Building up / back / front is the way to go I see! ETS: a wideline cape is wide (usually sits on more property) than an inline cape which goes deeper than a wideline, but not as wide.
Samanthas Mom
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
I dont have a cape but converted a levitt ranch into a colonial........... so my appraisal says no contractor charges for an estimate, they charge for plans after you book the job
mlp924
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
I have a wideline cape with a rear dormer upstairs and an attached garage. We made the galley kitchen/dining room into one big kitchen and are expanding off that to make a 15 x 18 dining room off the back with a fireplace and a deck. My hubby wanted to add a second floor to the dining room and make it an office. The only way I was adding a second floor would be if it was a bedroom. My backyard is on a canal and that is a much bigger bedroom than what we have but he thinks bedrooms belong in the front.
Oh well dining room it is!
Danielle&Scott
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
Danielle's parents have a cape with an attached Garage....They converted the garage into a Den...but from the outside of the house you would never know that. The Garage door is still there. Behind the garage door there is a New Gas Fireplace, vaulted Cielings, 2 Skylights and a really nice room to watch tv and relax.
There are plenty of possibilities to do with your house....
joeslauren
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Re: Expanding on a wideline cape...
These are some great ideas. Thanks guys! MLP - sounds like you are along the same track as me There are endless possibilities, but I just do not know where to start! Tammy - I have known of contractors that write up floor plans and if you decide to go with THEM, then they don't charge you... but if you do NOT decide to go with them or the work in general, THEN they charge you something like $100 - $200 for the time involved in writing up the plan. PS - got your voicemail this morn. Will call ya tomorrow Thanks again!
