Extend vs Move House

Under the Hood: The True Cost of Building vs. Buying

When you outgrow your home, the decision to extend or move is often driven by emotion and immediate construction quotes. The Extend vs. Move calculator forces you to look at the massive, invisible transaction costs that silently destroy your wealth.

1. The "Moving Tax"

The biggest blind spot for homeowners is the sheer scale of sunk transaction costs.

If you sell a $400k home to buy a $600k home, you aren't just paying a $200k difference. You are paying 5-6% to a real estate agent, thousands in stamp duty/transfer taxes, legal fees, and moving trucks. Our algorithm aggressively calculates these Sunk Costs—money that buys you zero equity and literally evaporates the moment you sign the papers. Moving often costs $30,000+ in pure fees before you even buy the new house.

2. Evaluating the Extension Quote

An extension has zero transaction costs, but massive execution risk.

The calculator takes your base construction quote and forces you to add standard contingencies (10-20%), architect fees, and the cost of temporary accommodation if you have to move out during the build. We then compare the Total Extension Cost against the estimated value it adds to your home. If an extension costs $100k but only adds $50k to your property value, you are losing $50k in home equity.

3. The Equalizer: Cost per Square Foot

To make an apples-to-apples comparison, the tool calculates the true "Cost per Added Square Foot."

Extending gives you new space at construction cost. Moving gives you new space at market rate plus transaction costs. If extending costs $300/sqft but moving costs $600/sqft of new space, extending is mathematically superior, even if the total dollar amount feels paralyzing.

The CrunchTheChoice Philosophy: Space vs. Disruption

Our calculator provides a definitive verdict, but financial efficiency is only half the battle.

Living through a 6-month home renovation with dust, noise, and contractors is a massive psychological toll. Conversely, uprooting your family and changing neighborhoods has immense social costs. Use this tool to establish the brutal financial baseline. If moving costs $40k more than extending, ask yourself: is avoiding six months of construction worth $40,000 to me?