To move or extend; that is the question

Deciding whether to move or extend is not easy, but it’s something that should be done when your home no longer fits your needs. Here are some aspects to consider that could help you decide whether it’s best to move or extend your home.

Why should you stay?

Make a list of reasons why you want to stay where you are. For example, do you like the neighbourhood and get on well with your neighbours? What about services that your family need or the local infrastructure, such as roads or public transport? If you are satisfied with these and prefer not to relocate to enjoy a larger space, then consider extending your home instead.

Professional architects can help you pin down a few important aspects, such as the size of the extension and how it best fits on your property. They can put together some preliminary drawings for you and even help you get a planning and building permit from your local council.

Another crucial aspect is working out the costs to decide whether you can afford the extension. It’s also important to determine whether it adds value if you decide to sell your home in the future.

Why should you move?

Make a list of reasons why you should move to a larger home rather than stay and extend your current one. Moving house can be stressful, and it can take some time for you to settle on your new home. However, if an extension would only serve to devalue your home or rob you of important land space, maybe moving is the more practical course of action.

The information you gained in researching an extension will help you weigh your alternatives. If you really like your neighbourhood but don’t have enough room for an extension, maybe you can move to a bigger home nearby. Check real estate listings, then do some calculations to compare the costs of buying versus extending, taking your mortgage into account if you have one. Knowing your financial and lifestyle options can make the decision whether to move or extend much clearer.

Anything else you should know?

Whatever direction you decide to take, there are likely to be some disruptions to your current lifestyle and home environment and a number of tasks to do to relocate or extend. These will also influence your decision.

You may have decided it’s best to move, which means you’ll have to prepare your current home so it presents well when you put it on the market and then be able to make it available for inspection by potential buyers. This means extra work and inconvenience. On the other hand, you may have decided to extend your current home, which means it will be a work site for some months.

“Guesstimations” don’t always translate into reality, so hiring the relevant professionals will assist you in making the best decision about whether to relocate or extend your current home. Hire an experienced architect to help you design a cost-effective, energy-efficient extension and ease the way through the approval process. A pre-sale stylist can apply their flair and experience so that your home presents well on the market and has a better chance of selling quickly. Investing in professional help can bring valuable returns in the long run, be it a quick sale or an efficient extension project.