Are you torn between renovating and moving? You’re not alone—it’s a dilemma seen in popular TV shows like Kopen of Slopen (Love It or List It). In this blog, we’ve listed the pros and cons of both options to help you decide.
The first question to ask yourself is: how do I feel in the house I currently live in? If you don’t feel at home, it’s worth considering whether that’s due to the state of the house or the neighborhood. If it’s the neighborhood, then relocating might be the better choice. But if it’s the condition of your home, a renovation might be the solution.
By renovating, you can stay in the familiar surroundings you’re used to—especially helpful if you have children. They can keep going to their current school, with friends just around the corner. But staying might be a nice option for you too.
One thing is certain: both renovating and relocating take time and money. In general, a renovation is considerably cheaper than moving. Plus, your home often increases in value—so if you decide to move later, you’ll benefit financially then as well.
If you want to move in today’s market, you’ll face a tight housing market, which can be stressful and often requires you to outbid others. By not moving, you save money—you won’t need a real estate agent, moving company, or to overpay for a new home. You can invest that money into your renovation instead.
Your home, your wishes
Another advantage of renovating rather than moving is that you can fully tailor your house to your own wishes. You’ll get a kitchen, bathroom, and living room completely to your taste. How great is that! Of course, your preferences aren’t just about appearance. Maybe you have sustainability goals too. We’ve previously written that a renovation is the perfect time to think about making your home more sustainable.
An honest opinion
Naturally, renovations have downsides too. Every renovation can bring stress, dust, and inconvenience. We do our best to limit that as much as possible by leaving your home tidy every day and being clear about the schedule and costs. Sometimes, a house simply isn’t worth renovating, and moving would be the better choice. We’ll always be honest with you about that.
Temporary solutions
You might not be able to use certain rooms temporarily—but there are solutions. Mobile bathrooms, toilets, and even kitchens are available to rent. If your renovation is very extensive, you might need to move out temporarily. But you could treat that as a kind of (mini) vacation or a fun stay with family or friends. Do whatever suits you best.