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Original poster

Would we be mad to buy a home and knock down a perfectly functional extension?

161 replies

WaryRaven · 21/01/2025 03:09

i have found a house I absolutely adore. It is a period home and absolutely stunning…from the front. Unfortunately there is a well built but rather awkward “garden room” extension I just don’t like. It’s the shape I have a problem with. Aesthetically it’s fine. Floors and walls are nice enough. I would just want to get rid of the whole thing. But would I be mad for doing so? Dh thinks I’m nuts but I assure him many people would also consider the garden room an eye sore and maybe build an orangery type thing to the west of the kitchen in a few years down the line. I hate how the original external windows have just had the glass removed so there are just big square holes between the kitchen and garden room.

It really is quite gorgeous from the front. Would I not just be knocking thousands off the value?

Would we be mad to buy a home and knock down a perfectly functional extension?
OP posts:
Chuchoter · 21/01/2025 06:18

I don't like the look of these modern bolt on extensions to traditional properties or opening up the back of a traditional house with those naff bifold doors.

Just buy a new property if they want a modern look.

However, once it's done I think it's a complete waste of resources, materials and time to knock it down/remove.

Find a house that is completely traditional.

tarmactreacle · 21/01/2025 06:17

Could you keep the shell but extend the kitchen forwards? Nothing worse than a kitchen with no outside windows, it would feel very odd to me and I definitely wouldn't like it.

No house would be built like that so it will always look like the extra room has been very badly added on. To me it will never feel like "one house"

Agix · 21/01/2025 06:10

I think the garden room looks really lovely and it would be mad to tear it down.

fridaynight1 · 21/01/2025 04:34

I have voted YABU because we have just done exactly that. DON'T DO IT!!
We haven't had a kitchen since last April. New walls are up but we still don't have a roof. I don't deny it will be fabulous when it's finished but seriously - it's cost double the budget and we will never get back the £thousands it will cost , the months we have lost in stress and getting trades in has been a bloody nightmare.
My advice - keep the shell, work with what you've got and live your best life.

Pippa12 · 21/01/2025 04:11

I would say your haven’t found your house yet! Wrap around extensions cost a bloody fortune and you would knock literally thousands off the house, in addition, it will cost you thousands to knock it down. Financial suicide!

Back to Rightmove imo!

Monty27 · 21/01/2025 04:02

Waste of money
You could just redesign what you have. Move doors, create a utility room? Knocking it down is ridiculous.

Icanttakethisanymore · 21/01/2025 04:00

i think you’d need to plan to keep the sqft but rebuild / remodel. Removing it entirely would not be financially sensible.

TriangleLight · 21/01/2025 03:57

I think you should buy another house!

That70sHouse · 21/01/2025 03:45

Is it because the front of the house is traditional/period and the extension at the back is modern? If so you need to lean into the “old meets new” style, look on Instagram or Pinterest for ideas of how it can be styled to look good

That70sHouse · 21/01/2025 03:44

Yes you would knock thousands off your value, if you’re using a mortgage company they may not be happy as if you pay £700k for it let’s say and they lend on this basis and then you knock £75k off the value then you have devalued the asset they have a charge on. I guess as long as you didn’t effectively end up in negative equity they might not care.

Why not repurpose or rejig the space? What’s awful about it?

SweedieLie · 21/01/2025 03:16

Sounds a bit odd, but yes I think you'd be crazy and would probably significantly devalue the house - you'd be losing about a third of the downstairs space!