Adding On: What It's Really Like
September 17, 2026
Adding On: What It's Really Like
Adding On: What It's Really Like
Recap from our Cheverly homeowner panel on additions and renovations — plus every handout from the night
Four Cheverly homeowners and a local contractor shared what it's really like to add on -- budgets, permits, surprises, and all. Didn't make it, or want to pass this along to a neighbor? All five handouts are below, free to download.
What the night covered
Cheverly homeowners who've added on to their homes joined a local contractor and a local architect for an honest, unscripted conversation about additions -- why they did it, what it cost, what surprised them, and what they'd do differently. No sales pitch, no script -- just neighbors talking to neighbors about a project a lot of us are curious about.
We covered the questions people actually ask before they start:
- Why add on instead of moving
- How long the process really takes, start to finish
- The biggest surprises -- cost and otherwise
- Permits, and what that process is actually like in Cheverly
- How to choose a contractor or architect you can trust
- What daily life looks like mid-construction -- noise, pets, kids, and all
Useful links mentioned at the seminar
Cost vs value - They compare average costs for 28 remodeling projects with the value those projects retain at resale in 119 U.S. markets.
Older permit database for Prince George's County AND newer permit database - YES CHECK BOTH!
DPIE (Dept of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement) page on Additions - from there it's easy to see other kinds of permits
When is a permit required - helpful chart from DPIE
Checking on a contractor's license https://labor.maryland.gov/pq/ - check back because licenses expire!
Handouts from the seminar
Everything we handed out in the room, in one place. Download what's useful to you.
- Questions to Ask When Interviewing Contractors Vetting questions covering licensing, experience, scope, and contract
- If You Think You've Been Scammed Step-by-step: what to do, and who to report it to
- MD Attorney General: Home Repair Scams Official Consumer's Edge bulletin — warning signs, licensing checks, payment limits, and your right to cancel
- Living Through Construction A practical checklist for daily life during the project
- What Adds Value — And What Doesn't A Cheverly market perspective on additions and resale
- Permit & Inspection Basics Navigating County (DPIE) and Town of Cheverly permitting
- DPIE: Additions & Alterations Guide Official Prince George's County guide — electrical, plumbing, septic, and sprinkler requirements for additions
Thinking about an addition of your own, or just want to talk through what makes sense for your home and your block?
A lifetime Maryland resident, Susan Pruden has the ideal foundation for selling and buying homes. After 8 years working in just about every facet of the mortgage industry, and several years with her own company specializing in marketing for real estate agents, Susan got her real estate license in 1994. Susan has earned several industry awards. The CENTURY 21 Quality Service Pinnacle Award is based on reviews from Susan's clients and is earned by a very small percentage of agents. She has earned that coveted recognition since 2012
Two others were awarded by the Prince George's Association of REALTORS®. The Distinguished Sales Associate of the Year Award is based on a mixture of community involvement, association involvement and real estate education and designations. The other, the Distinguished Service Award, is for "exceptional meritorious service."
Susan is involved in her local community. She was named Cheverly Volunteer of the Year in 2018, even having June 25th designated "Susan Pruden Day" in the Town of Cheverly. She is also a Commissioner on the Prince George's County Historic Preservation Commission and President of the Cheverly American Legion Auxiliary.
Susan Pruden has lived in Cheverly lived with her husband, Joseph, for almost 30 years.
