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It’s a question many homeowners face at some point during their lives: to move or to extend?
There’s nothing wrong with reaching that stage with your home where it feels like you need something bigger, smaller or just, well - different. But moving can be costly, stressful and, let’s be honest - the grass isn’t always greener on the other side!
With that in mind, here are a few reasons extending your home might be a much better idea than moving.
Moving is expensive, but misleadingly so. There are just so many costs to take into account.
Besides the estate agents, you have the solicitors, stamp duty, unexpected improvements you’ll need to make to get the right price and removals. And there’s also the possibility of paying more in your new location for things like council tax.
Extensions aren’t cheap, but they pale in comparison to the cost of moving.
Unless you’re particularly unhappy where you are currently, staying put is a great idea if you love your area.
If the only thing that is missing is an extra bedroom, home office or additional storage, you can probably achieve that with an extension.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is opting to move only to find themselves in a different area that is worse, despite the ‘better home’ they’ve gained.
Buying and selling a property relies on lots of third parties. And, while there’s nothing wrong with estate agents and solicitors (they’re only doing their job, after all), they can become a burden.
With an extension, you’re in control. Paperwork might amount to planning and building regulations, but that’s probably it.
There’s that word again - control.
You can of course pick the house you want when you buy again, but with your own home you can add an extension that is entirely to your taste.
Planning issues aside, this is usually the best way to get what you want and means you can build that perfect kitchen, bathroom or garage conversion without compromising on anything else.
Ok, a home extension can be pretty stressful (for instance, no one wants to be without the kitchen for any period of time), but compared to moving, it’s a walk in the park.
How many times have you moved (or know someone who has), only to find yourself saying “we won’t be doing that again for a long time”?
Moving is incredibly stressful and lasts for a lot longer if you take all of the research and red tape into account. An extension is a relatively brief disruption that most people can live with.
House purchases fall through - that’s a fact of life. But it’s also a very cruel fact of life that can put real strain on families and their finances.
With a home extension, your risk is pretty low. Providing you do your homework and bring in the best trades, you shouldn’t run into any trouble that seriously dents your bank balance or state of mind.
We hope we’ve given you plenty of food for thought. Just remember - moving home is a big deal, and as disruptive as an extension can be, the positives above are often the deciding factor for many families.