Extend or move? The costs people forget when they compare

The price gap between your house and the next one up is only part of it. On top of that you will typically pay:

• Stamp Duty Land Tax on the new purchase. The current residential rates are on GOV.UK.
• Estate agent fees when you sell, and legal fees on both the sale and the purchase.
• Survey and mortgage arrangement costs.
• Removals, and often some redecorating and new furniture for a different layout.

The build price is the largest item, but budget for the rest too: design drawings, structural calculations, planning or Lawful Development Certificate fees where needed, building control fees, and some contingency for what you find once the ground is open. Our extension cost guide explains what moves the price.

There are practical costs as well. You will lose some garden, there will be a few months of disruption, and you may need to move out of the kitchen for a spell. Most of our clients live in the house throughout.

• Do you like where you live? Schools, neighbours and the commute are hard to replace.
• Will the extension solve the actual problem? A bigger kitchen-diner and an extra bedroom are different projects.
• Is there a value ceiling on your street? Ask a local estate agent what comparable extended houses sell for, because an extension does not always add what it costs.
• Do you have the space and the permissions? Check permitted development and any conservation area or estate restrictions early. Our planning permission guide is a good place to start.

Write both options down with every cost on each side, including the ones you would normally forget. If the numbers are close, the decision usually comes down to whether you want to stay. If you would like a realistic build figure to put in the comparison, we can visit and quote against a clear specification. Have a look at our recent extension projects or get in touch.