Extend or Move? Weighing Up Your Options Before Making a Big Property Decision

If you're feeling squeezed in your current home, you might be facing a big

question: should you extend or should you move? At Plans4Extensions, we’ve helped homeowners across Altrincham, Sale, Stockport, Warrington and South West London explore this exact decision, and there’s no one size fits all answer.

Here, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of extending your home versus moving so you can make a more confident, informed choice.

The Positives of Extending Your Home

1. Stay in the Area You Love - One of the biggest advantages of extending is that you don’t have to leave behind your favourite local spots, your children’s school, or your friendly neighbours.

2. Tailored to Your Lifestyle - With an extension, you get to design your ideal space, whether that’s a kitchen-diner, a home office, or an extra bedroom for a growing family. It’s your layout, your flow, and your finishes.

3. Increase Property Value - Done properly, an extension can boost the value of your home. In areas like Altrincham or South West London, added square footage often translates directly into higher market value.

4. Avoid Stamp Duty and Moving Costs - The cost of moving can be steep, especially when you factor in estate agent fees, stamp duty, removals, and legal bills. An extension lets you invest that money back into your own property.

5. Planning Has Never Been More Accessible - With Permitted Development Rights, many single storey rear extensions or loft conversions don’t even require full planning permission. And even when they do, Plans4Extensions can manage the entire application process for you.

The Drawbacks of Extending

1. It’s Still a Disruption - Even with the best builders, construction means noise, dust, and temporary inconvenience. If you’re working from home or have young children, this can be challenging.

2. Not Always a Simple Approval - If you live in a conservation area or have a unique property, planning can be more complex, though we’re well-versed in navigating applications with local authorities across Greater Manchester and London.

3. Limited Expansion Potential - Not all homes can be extended. Some properties may already be at or near their limit for floor space, or have issues with access, sunlight, or structural feasibility.

The Positives of Moving Home

1. A Fresh Start - Moving gives you a clean slate, a new neighbourhood, new layout, maybe even a bigger garden or better commute.

2. Avoid Construction Disruption - No dust, no drilling, you get the home you need without living through the mess.

3. Potential to Upsize in One Step - If you’re significantly outgrowing your home, a new property might offer everything you need in one go, without needing to build anything.

The Downsides of Moving

1. It’s Expensive - Moving home costs thousands in stamp duty, estate agent fees, solicitors, and removals, and that’s before any renovations or updates in the new place.

2. You May Still Need to Renovate - Many buyers find that even their new home still needs tweaking, a new kitchen, better storage, or an extra bathroom, meaning more money and more work.

3. Competitive Market - The UK housing market remains tight, especially in popular areas like Stockport, Sale, and South West London, so finding the right home at the right price can be difficult.

So… Should You Extend or Move?

Here’s the reality: extending is often more cost effective and less stressful than moving... if your property has the potential.

At Plans4Extensions, we offer free consultations to help you understand what’s possible and how much it’s likely to cost, before you make any big decisions. Our architectural plans are designed to get you planning approval and make the building phase as smooth as possible.

We Work Across:

We cover Greater Manchester and London and Altrincham, Sale, Stockport, Warrington, South West London and South East London is where we predominetly work but we cover most areas around the UK.