To move or not to move

avenida

This is the second time I've had my house on the market, its been on the market for the past 6 months with one offer and 3 viewings.

Problem is I am in a detached house and would like to move to another detached house but cant see anything on the market we can afford in the area.

We could extend our property however the reason I have wanted to move is I have always liked the idea of a newer house. Our house is 40 years old and would like something about 5-10 year old.

We do have some black on the walls in our house however I reckon this is done to condensation as its just in the bedrooms we sleep in.

Worried if I stay and improve I will get itchy feet again, however if I move and stay in the area it will be to a semi

Any advice?

avenida

Any help.

Starting to sway towards extending since I like my neighbours and cant get anything in the area

Doozergirl

You can make an old house new again. There isn't anything you can't do to it to get it all shiny again.

By the time you've paid solicitors, agents fees, stamp duty etc you'd have bought yourself the elements of a new kitchen and bathroom as well. It does sound like you probably need to drop the price as well if you want to sell it this time. 6 months with three viewings is really bad news so you may not even have as much to play with as you think you might.

If you want a newer house you can create one. There aren't any real major advantages to owning a new house over an older one that been updated unless you're well into insualtion. And I mean well into insualtion as there's still a lot you can get into an old house for very little money.

Buyers expect a standard of home, regardless of age. If yours doesn't meet that standard and you're expecting something newer for the same price, people will be knocking money from yours so that they can get yours up to that same level. You won't find 'better' for the same money - that's logical. If you like your house then why move if you can make it suit you better?

avenida

Thanks for the reply, we did knock 10k of ours a few weeks ago but Im going to talk to the hubby again tonight and get in touch with the architect and give him the go ahead to apply for planning.

We have such good neighbours just thought that extending would be a lot of hassle

Fire_Fox

If you want to sell then at the very least give the place a thorough going over - black mould in the bedrooms is not going to attract buyers! Does it smell damp too?

sunshinetours

Don't under estimate the value of good neighbours. Just search on here and there have been some regular horror stories.

Depends on what price bracket you are in with stamp duty etc as to how much cheaper it may be moving or extending. If you like where you are and who you live next to I would seriously consider upgrading your own home

just be sure before you do it tat youdo dedfinitely want ot stay as if you spend all that money extending, decorating etc you may not get it all back in the short term if you then sold

avenida

My house doesnt smell and the black is very little and I do wash it off for when viewers come to see house, I know it is down to condensation.

I do love where I live its a lovely area, and I hear what you are saying about maybe wanting to move again, but I have been looking on the property market for months and have seen nothing that suits the criteria.

Just wondering how bad it will be to extend, mess and hassell!!!

sunshinetours

It will depend on what you are having done and what the access is like.

A rear extension may not be too bad until they have to knock through as much of the building and foundation work may be outside your current house structure.

A loft extension may be disruptive depending on how they can get the material up into the loft and where the stairs are going etc

A garage conversion will probably be the least disruptive as out the front of your house and only when they knock through access does it all join up. Ours was done within two weeks and was minimally disruptive

Overall no more disruptive than selling and trying to find a new house and moving and redecorating the new house IMO!

Just plan the extension really really well (some good ideas if you search on here) to make sure the space will work for you

avenida

It would be a side extension, only knocking through downstairs via the kitchen and upstairs via the toliet.

I would be gaining a downstairs loo, large kitchen/diner/ living area, upstairs a 4 piece family bathroom and extra bedroom

My concern is how difficult it would be to match up the brick and how it would look at the end my house is 40 year old, would it be better to render the property?