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Move or Improve?
Move or Improve?
Category: Lifestyle & Property
Reading Time: 9 Minutes
📌 The 2026 Reality Check
In the current market, moving house is expensive. Between Stamp Duty, legal fees, and rising house prices, the “Dead Money” cost of moving in Hampshire can easily top £35,000 before you even hire a removal van.
For many families, the smarter financial move is to stay put, invest that money into your current home, and unlock the potential you already own.
It is the eternal homeowner’s dilemma. Do you crave a fresh start in a new postcode, or do you love your neighbours but hate your kitchen? Do you need an extra bedroom, or just better use of the space you have?
Buying a property often descends into endless calls to solicitors, estate agents, chains collapsing, and sleepless nights. Before you put your house on the market, it pays to do the maths. Is moving truly the only way to get the home you want?
Table of Contents
1. The “Dead Money” Calculation
When you move house, a significant chunk of your budget disappears into what financial experts call “Dead Money”—transaction costs that add zero value to your life or your asset.
Let’s look at a realistic scenario for a family in Hampshire upgrading from a £450,000 home to a £650,000 property to gain an extra bedroom and a larger kitchen.
| Expense | Estimated Cost (2026) | What it buys you |
|---|---|---|
| Stamp Duty (Standard Rate) | £20,000 | Nothing (Tax) |
| Estate Agent Fees (1.5% + VAT) | £8,100 | Marketing |
| Solicitor & Conveyancing | £3,500 | Paperwork |
| Surveyor & Mortgage Fees | £1,500 | Reports |
| Removals | £1,500 | Transport |
| TOTAL “DEAD MONEY” | £34,600 | ZERO ASSET VALUE |
That is nearly £35,000 gone forever. Now imagine taking that exact budget and investing it into your current home. That budget could easily cover a high-spec modern extension, a complete window replacement with Residence 9, or a luxury kitchen renovation.
2. The Emotional Cost
Beyond the spreadsheet, there are the “soft factors” that make a house a home. Moving is consistently ranked as one of life’s most stressful events, right up there with divorce and bereavement.
- Neighbours: You know who lives next door. A new house is a lottery—you could move next to a nightmare.
- Schools & Stability: Moving often means disrupting children’s education or enduring a longer school run. Staying put provides stability.
- The “Fixer-Upper” Risk: You know your current home’s quirks. A new home often comes with hidden problems (old boilers, leaky roofs) that a surveyor might miss.
3. The “Improve” Strategy: 3 Ways to Expand
If the main reason you want to move is “lack of space,” there are usually solutions within your existing footprint.
Option A: The Glazed Extension
Forget the freezing cold polycarbonate boxes of the 1990s. Modern Orangeries and Conservatories use solar-control glass and insulated bases to create year-round living spaces. They are perfect for dining rooms, playrooms, or light-filled lounges.
Option B: The Solid Roof Upgrade
Already have a conservatory that you can’t use? Replacing the roof with a Solid Tiled Roof transforms it into a proper extension instantly, regulating the temperature for 365-day use.
4. The Revolution: hup! Extensions
Traditionally, building an extension meant months of mess, muddy gardens, and builders in your home. KJM is proud to offer the revolutionary hup! building system.
🚀 What is hup!?
hup! is a modern way to build. It uses pre-fabricated, highly insulated walls that clip together rapidly on site.
- 5x More Efficient: Than the average UK brick home.
- Rapid Build: A hup! extension can be watertight in just a couple of days.
- Flexible Finishes: Can be finished with brick slips, render, or cladding to match your home perfectly.
5. Renovating for ROI (Return on Investment)
If you decide to stay and improve, you want to ensure your investment adds value to the property for when you do eventually sell.
- Kerb Appeal: The first impression matters. Replacing tired windows with heritage-style frames instantly elevates the perceived value of the entire home.
- Energy Efficiency: In 2026, buyers are obsessed with EPC ratings. Moving from single/old double glazing to modern A-Rated windows is a key selling point.
- Usable Square Footage: An extra room is the tangible asset estate agents look for.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. Many single-storey extensions and conservatories fall under “Permitted Development” rights. This allows you to extend up to a certain distance (usually 3m or 4m) without a full planning application, though building regulations will still apply. KJM handles all the paperwork for you.
Generally, building “out” (single-storey extension/conservatory) is cheaper per square metre than building “up” (loft conversion), primarily due to the structural steel and staircase work required for lofts. However, building out sacrifices garden space.
It depends on the project. Replacing windows is usually a 2-3 day job with minimal mess. A full brick extension can take months. Modern systems like hup! are designed to be “clean builds,” minimizing the mess and disruption to your daily life.
📚 Renovation Inspiration
Ready to improve? Explore your options:
Mark Pearce is a highly experienced specialist in the double glazing industry, having built his knowledge from the ground up through hands-on experience in installation, manufacturing, sales, and business management. Beyond his role at KJM, Mark is a keen blogger, writer, and traveller, often sharing insights on the latest innovations in the home improvement industry.
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