Before putting your house on the market, look around your home and ask yourself if you are just looking for more living space rather than a total change of location.
Moving can be a very expensive option if you own your own house and aren’t looking to change your surroundings drastically. Some things need to be taken into account, such as the cost of hiring a truck or employing a removal company with insurance, solicitors and real estate agent fees, and any packing or storage fees, to name just a few.
A cheaper solution?
It may be far cheaper to look at improving or remodeling the house you are currently living in, whether it be a loft, a basement, a garage conversion, or even an extension of some kind on the side or rear of your house. (Also, adding an extension to the side of your current property can add character and uniqueness).
You can really express your personality in the way it looks and have the extra size and layout you desire without having to compromise on perhaps location. It will also add to your home’s value and may be a significant selling point in the future.
Sticking with what you know
There is also the added bonus of knowing your neighbors and local communities already without having to settle in. it will also save time and effort in filling out lots of arduous paperwork for change of address. If you have kids, there will be no moving of schools and no new adjustment in finding new friends, which can be pretty daunting and stressful for some kids.
Extensions and conversions do cost money. Companies who specialize in these areas are very good at showing you what they can offer, and by having a lot of experience in their fields, know the pitfalls and should be able to help guide you in the right direction.
Get exactly what you want
You can have your say in how much natural light you can get in your new extension, as well as how you would like the exterior finish and the interior finish to look like. If you chose a local building company, they would know any planning consent required, and they will also be able to give you an estimate quite close to the final bill for the work you are asking to be completed.
If you aren’t lucky enough to have the desired amount sitting in your bank account, there are options available in raising funds. Getting a personal loan is a popular financing option. With a personal loan, you borrow a set amount at an interest rate that is typically fixed, and pay it off with monthly installments over a fixed payment period.
In conclusion
All in all, it is well worth the effort of getting quotes in for improving your current house as well as quotes for moving home entirely. When getting the estate agent round to view, ask them how much value a conversion or extension would put on your property – you may be nicely surprised.
This article had a lot of useful information. I also found it interesting to read.
This was really helpful to read and it gave me a lot of ideas. It’s true moving isn’t always the answer. I would love to do an extension to our house.