From Starter Cape to Standout Family Home

Some projects are straightforward renovations. You update the kitchen, freshen the bathrooms, refinish the floors, and move on. And then there are projects like 4013 Madison Street in Hyattsville — a full structural transformation that required tearing into the bones of a tired, undersized cape cod and rebuilding it into something the neighborhood had never seen before.

When we acquired this property in late 2020 for $200,000, what I had on my hands was an 86-year-old cape cod sitting on a spacious corner lot in close-in Hyattsville. Two bedrooms, one bathroom, roughly 700 square feet of livable space above grade. The home had good bones — original brick, a wood burning fireplace, and a location just minutes from the DC line — but the footprint made it essentially unlendable as a family home in a market where buyers needed space. The vision was clear: build up, build out, and build down.

The Addition: Creating Space That Didn't Exist

The centerpiece of this project was a two-story addition that added approximately 1,000 square feet to the structure. This wasn't a bump-out or a simple room addition — it was a full two-story build that fundamentally changed the profile and scale of the house.

On the main level, the addition allowed us to reconfigure the entire floor plan. We opened up the back of the original structure to create a proper dining room that flows into a completely new kitchen. The kitchen was built from scratch: custom cabinetry, quartz countertops, a herringbone tile backsplash, a seating peninsula, and all-new stainless steel appliances including a built-in microwave, gas range, dishwasher, and front-loading washer and dryer. We also carved out a mudroom with rear yard access and added a half bath with an exposed brick accent wall — a nod to the home's original 1936 character tucked into a brand-new layout.

On the upper level, the addition is where the transformation really becomes apparent. The original cape cod had cramped upper-level bedrooms with limited headroom — a common challenge with that style of construction. The addition allowed us to build a full second floor with a proper primary suite, complete with a generously sized bedroom and a private bathroom featuring an oversized walk-in shower. Two additional bedrooms and a second full bath complete the upper level, bringing the total above-grade bedroom count to three — all of them properly sized, all of them with good light.

Finishing the Basement: A Third Level of Living

The original basement at 4013 Madison was unfinished — raw block walls, a slab floor, and utility storage. The opportunity was obvious. We fully finished the basement from top to bottom, added a waterproofing system, and cut a new walkout entrance to the rear yard to bring in natural light and create a true lower-level living space rather than just a finished rec room.

The finished basement adds a fourth bedroom — large enough to function as a private home office, in-law suite, or guest room — along with a full bathroom, a family room / recreation area, and dedicated storage. The walkout creates a natural separation from the upper floors, making the basement feel like its own apartment within the house rather than just a bonus room. For buyers with multi-generational living needs, remote work requirements, or simply a need for space, this level alone justified the scope of the project.

Whole-Home Renovation, Top to Bottom

Beyond the addition and the basement, every square inch of the original structure was touched. New hardwood floors throughout the main and upper levels. Recessed lighting installed throughout all three levels. New HVAC with central air conditioning. New gas forced-air heating system. New roof. New windows. New plumbing and electrical to accommodate the expanded footprint and all-new fixtures.

The exterior was re-sided with a combination of brick and vinyl, maintaining the craftsman cape cod character while giving the home a clean, modern curb presence. The side porch — one of the original home's best features — was preserved and refinished, creating an outdoor living space that connects the living room to the corner lot's generous outdoor area. Driveway parking was maintained, and the spacious lot gives the home a breathing room that's rare in this part of Prince George's County.

The Result: 2,040 Square Feet, $655,500

When 4013 Madison hit the market in early 2022, it sold in seven days with multiple offers, closing at $655,500 against a list price of $625,000. The transformation from a 700-square-foot, two-bedroom cape to a 2,040-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home represented a complete repositioning of the asset — and a result that reflected just how much demand exists in close-in Hyattsville for move-in ready, properly sized family homes.

The project is a case study in what thoughtful, well-executed rehab can do in a market where the land value and location are strong but the existing structure is holding the property back. The corner lot provided the footprint. The two-story addition created the space. The finished walkout basement added a level of versatility that buyers in this price range were hungry for. And the full interior renovation meant the buyer walked into a home that felt genuinely new — because in almost every meaningful way, it was.

Thinking about a value-add project in the DC suburbs? I've done this work firsthand — not just sold it. If you're evaluating a property with addition or conversion potential in Prince George's County or the surrounding area, reach out. I'm happy to walk through what I've learned and what numbers tend to work in today's market.