Extend or Move?

Extend or Move?

Many people love where they live - the house, the neighbours and the location - but when things become a bit cramped they often face a difficult decision: “Do we extend or do we move?” As estate agents we are always being asked for our opinion and predicted end value of a house if extended. Here are a few hints, tips and some questions to get you thinking about whether extending your home is right for you.

How much will the house be worth if we extend? Generally speaking if your property is already in good condition and you decide to extend into the loft or at the back of the house you should plan to stay for the medium to long term. A good quality extension will usually cost anywhere from £30,000 upwards, but you are not guaranteed that this amount will be transferred straight to the end value of your home.

If you want to extend into the loft we generally advise that you try and incorporate an ensuite as well as another bedroom. This will be more expensive but will certainly help with end value. Think about access into the new loft room. Will you lose a bedroom creating space for a second staircase? Is there enough head height or will you need to include dormers and a new roof? Will the joists need strengthening to take appropriate loading of a floor rather than a ceiling? Do you need planning permission? All of these things cost money but you won’t necessarily see a great benefit from the expense incurred.

Extending to the rear or side to create a large kitchen and social space is always popular but consider how much garden area will be used. Family houses with small gardens can sometimes struggle when it comes to resale. Also think about a two storey extension rather than just single. The cost does not double but the space can.

Have a look where your drains are. How close to the boundary can you build? Will you need a party wall agreement? Will a neighbour have a right to light issue? Can you build under permitted development or do you need permission?

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you get the relevant building regulations approval and we always advise consulting an architect before you approach a builder.

If you are facing a decision about whether to extend or move, do contact Fearnalls Estate Agents to discuss things through. We will be able to provide you specific advice about your property and an estimate of the current and post-building work value.