Page 2 | To abandon the extension?

Extendorsave · 2025-04-21T16:11:36+00:00

Just after some opinions really as DH and I can't decide what to do and are after some Mumsnet wisdom. We bought a 1930s semi 2 years ago with the intention of doing an extension. It's a 5 bed semi (2 rooms in the loft) but it needed loads of work. It currently has a small old kitchen and separate dining room, it feels small downstairs. Our plan was to knock through, get a new kitchen and build a utility on the side. We've been quoted about 50-60k for this. We borrowed the money as part of the initial mortgage, planning to do it quicky and have it in a high interest account. We have 3 kids aged 8, 5 and 2, and planning one more possibly. As time goes on I feel like we would be better off keeping this money. I imagine all the lovely holidays it would cover, and possibly helping the kids through expensive phases. We are not struggling for money, we can afford a basic holiday every year, but the extra money would mean nicer holidays, maybe extra trips, the ability to not worry about money and buy things we need. Or we could even pay off some of the 380k mortgage! We also have an additional 30k in savings if that makes a difference, which is our back up money as DH is self employed, so it will remain untouched. My DH thinks we should do the extension and prioritise making the house nice to live in, I am having doubts as I'm not sure a side utility will make a huge amount of difference to our lives but I do see how much nicer it would be to have an open plan space for having friends over and spending more time together as a family. I don't think it would add much value we there is a ceiling to houses in our road. We might not make it all back if we sold and ideally we don't want to move for a long time. Anyone had a similar dilemma? What did you do?

Ecrire · 23/04/2025 06:59

I love how the OP has gone from clearly stating that they borrowed money (in such clear words) for an extension to then changing it to they didn’t borrow money at all and simply have held back savings for an extension.

whatsgoingon2024 · 23/04/2025 06:34

You’ve borrowed extra money as part of your mortgage and instead of using it for the purpose you intended, you want to use it for holidays etc? Words fail me. You’ve borrowed this against your home, why on earth would you want to fritter away the money? Common sense has gone out the window. No one borrows £60k and wastes the money like this, why would you waste your money. Either use it for the intended purpose or pay it off the mortgage and reduce your interest.

CannotWaitForSummervibes · 23/04/2025 06:29

Definitely do the extension. The extra space will give you much more in terms of quality family life than an extra holiday.

user1497787065 · 23/04/2025 03:52

I think you need to decide between adding value or making the property more comfortable to live in. These are two separate decisions. I have a utility room and wouldn’t buy a house without one. I assume also that you are planning to knock through the kitchen and dining room. I don’t think you would regret it.

As for having borrowed 50k and to spend it on holidays is madness. It’s like buying a new car and financing it over 25 years.

springtimemagic · 22/04/2025 22:19

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 21:07

Yes I do understand. If you looked at my later post you'll see that it wasn't an extra loan, it was profit from a previous property sale that we decided to keep in order to do the extension.
But having the money sitting there has made me question whether I want it to all go into a house.

One thing I find amusing is that noone ever questions someone spending large sums on holidays if it's from savings, and just says 'if you can afford it do it' but those people probably have mortgages that need paying off too, surely none of us should ever go on holiday and just focus on paying off our debts if we are being financially savvy. Very few people at our age are entirely debt free.

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It’s a balancing act as it is with everything in financial planning

Original poster

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 22:11

ThatHazelGuide · 22/04/2025 22:01

Do you have a cellar?

No we don't.

OP posts:

abracadabra1980 · 22/04/2025 22:06

Only my humble opinion but I'd rather never have a holiday if it meant having a beautiful home. I vote extension.

ThatHazelGuide · 22/04/2025 22:01

Do you have a cellar?

Original poster

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 22:00

Heronwatcher · 22/04/2025 21:10

I think YWBU not to do anything, looking at your house it looks like a good size and you’re never going to find a perfect place.

That said looking at the floor plan I would be tempted to do something a bit more ambitious, and especially to end up with 2 areas for TV watching downstairs if you’re planning 4 kids. The below pic is something I might think about and is unlikely to cost that much more (might take a while for pic to load).

I've just been thinking, we could potentially have stairs going down into the rear extension, that would probably save on the added cost caused by being on a slope.

OP posts:

Original poster

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 21:25

Heronwatcher · 22/04/2025 21:10

I think YWBU not to do anything, looking at your house it looks like a good size and you’re never going to find a perfect place.

That said looking at the floor plan I would be tempted to do something a bit more ambitious, and especially to end up with 2 areas for TV watching downstairs if you’re planning 4 kids. The below pic is something I might think about and is unlikely to cost that much more (might take a while for pic to load).

This is a fab idea, thank you! I wonder how much it would be to go out the back by that much, I'll need to get another builder round I think.

OP posts:

Heronwatcher · 22/04/2025 21:10

I think YWBU not to do anything, looking at your house it looks like a good size and you’re never going to find a perfect place.

That said looking at the floor plan I would be tempted to do something a bit more ambitious, and especially to end up with 2 areas for TV watching downstairs if you’re planning 4 kids. The below pic is something I might think about and is unlikely to cost that much more (might take a while for pic to load).

Original poster

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 21:07

Plmnki · 22/04/2025 20:48

Dear god OP, you don’t understand how the compound interest on your huge mortgage actually works, do you? Go onto chat gpt and ask it to teach you.

you cannot compare funds in a savings account vs funds being paid off a mortgage. Maths doesn’t work like that.

the fact you have a massive mortgage and are considering frittering this money away on holidays is frightening, have you no financial sense at all?

oh and there is no way that extension is going to cost £60k if you’re in the south east, it’s £100k.

Yes I do understand. If you looked at my later post you'll see that it wasn't an extra loan, it was profit from a previous property sale that we decided to keep in order to do the extension.
But having the money sitting there has made me question whether I want it to all go into a house.

One thing I find amusing is that noone ever questions someone spending large sums on holidays if it's from savings, and just says 'if you can afford it do it' but those people probably have mortgages that need paying off too, surely none of us should ever go on holiday and just focus on paying off our debts if we are being financially savvy. Very few people at our age are entirely debt free.

OP posts:

Plmnki · 22/04/2025 20:48

Dear god OP, you don’t understand how the compound interest on your huge mortgage actually works, do you? Go onto chat gpt and ask it to teach you.

you cannot compare funds in a savings account vs funds being paid off a mortgage. Maths doesn’t work like that.

the fact you have a massive mortgage and are considering frittering this money away on holidays is frightening, have you no financial sense at all?

oh and there is no way that extension is going to cost £60k if you’re in the south east, it’s £100k.

PenelopeSkye · 22/04/2025 20:10

I would do it. We were in a similar position (the money for our extension was in savings but we debated for a few years about whether to go ahead or keep the savings). Eventually did it and honestly have no regrets, it is such a nicer house to live in and we plan to be here for a very long time. It didn’t use all our savings, which helped- but sounds like you also have savings you won’t be touching?

FiveBarGate · 22/04/2025 20:05

Julieju1 · 22/04/2025 19:06

Watch Kirstie and Phils Love it or List it on Channel 4 catch up channel. Lots of fantastic ideas that either increase value or break even, plus improve quality of life for the families.
Definitely knock through between kitchen and dining room and find space in that area for a sofa and TV, this keeps your lounge as a quieter space.
Consider using the conservatory as a Utility room, or, could you enlarge the downstairs toilet to make it a Utility room?

I love Love It or List It too but in the most recent series quite a few didn't make what they'd spent back in increased value. In fact one lost substantially.

Building costs have rocketed so it is important to be realistic.

That said in the latest series someone did do something good with a conservatory as a utility room so might be worth a watch..

Ecrire · 22/04/2025 19:30

In other words you’d be putting holidays on to a secured loan ie converting holidays into brick and mortar of mortgage? Batshit doesn’t cover it

Queenofthestonage · 22/04/2025 19:25

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 17:22

Why do people think we will need more space as they grow? Is this due to them being bigger people and having bigger things? Bigger dirty clothes to wash? Lots of bigger friends?
Genuinely interested as ours are all small and still have huge toys like toy kitchens and toot toot garages etc, I was kind of hoping time would help with the space issue a bit but I'm probably being naive!

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I have three grown up sons, when lockdown began 2 of their girlfriends moved in and apart from my eldest son we were all working/ studying from home, I was very glad of the large kitchen/dining/utility room extension we had built about 15 years before. They have all moved out now but still very glad of the space when they all come for weekends etc
It has also cost a fortune to help them all out with Uni / house deposits / Cars / weddings, I would think more carefully about having another child than getting the extension done!

Julieju1 · 22/04/2025 19:06

Watch Kirstie and Phils Love it or List it on Channel 4 catch up channel. Lots of fantastic ideas that either increase value or break even, plus improve quality of life for the families.
Definitely knock through between kitchen and dining room and find space in that area for a sofa and TV, this keeps your lounge as a quieter space.
Consider using the conservatory as a Utility room, or, could you enlarge the downstairs toilet to make it a Utility room?

TheDogsMother · 22/04/2025 18:33

If you’ve been watching The Feud on Channel 5 you defo won’t get your kitchen extension done <misses point of thread>

Original poster

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 18:32

Parallellives · 22/04/2025 18:23

@Extendorsave its about how they use the space as they get older. They may start bringing friends or a boyfriend/girlfriend home regularly. Extra people for dinner. Plus teenagers eat a lot. My DS is constantly in the kitchen looking for food.

Then they start doing their own cooking / baking / protein shakes etc, which adds to the number of people using the kitchen.
If you have a small kitchen it’s fine if it’s just you cooking dinner, but add to that a tall teenager and friends trying to get to the fridge / microwave etc and you see the problem….

(I am currently waiting for my teen to finish baking a cake so that I can start cooking dinner. We really need a bigger kitchen!)

Edited

We have 3 boys and their dad is 6'4! (Gulp)

OP posts:

Artrunner · 22/04/2025 18:29

Isittimeformynapyet · 21/04/2025 17:50

Do you really think cramped, lonely kitchens with doors to negotiate while carrying heavy, hot things will come back into fashion? I'm sure some people prefer them, but I'd be surprised.

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I sold my open plan house so I could get a seperate kitchen and dining room back! I hated open plan, i hate people hovering in the kitchen whilst I am cooking and I like that dinner guests do not see the messy kitchen! Each to their own!

Parallellives · 22/04/2025 18:23

@Extendorsave its about how they use the space as they get older. They may start bringing friends or a boyfriend/girlfriend home regularly. Extra people for dinner. Plus teenagers eat a lot. My DS is constantly in the kitchen looking for food.

Then they start doing their own cooking / baking / protein shakes etc, which adds to the number of people using the kitchen.
If you have a small kitchen it’s fine if it’s just you cooking dinner, but add to that a tall teenager and friends trying to get to the fridge / microwave etc and you see the problem….

(I am currently waiting for my teen to finish baking a cake so that I can start cooking dinner. We really need a bigger kitchen!)

BathshebaB · 22/04/2025 18:22

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 17:22

Why do people think we will need more space as they grow? Is this due to them being bigger people and having bigger things? Bigger dirty clothes to wash? Lots of bigger friends?
Genuinely interested as ours are all small and still have huge toys like toy kitchens and toot toot garages etc, I was kind of hoping time would help with the space issue a bit but I'm probably being naive!

Show quote history

From my POV it’s because they are literally bigger! All going to be as tall as their dad - take up more space on the sofa, round a dining table etc.

Original poster

Extendorsave · 22/04/2025 17:22

Vevvie · 22/04/2025 17:10

You’ll wish for more room when your kids are older! I’d do the extension if the moneys there. Plenty time for holidays.

Why do people think we will need more space as they grow? Is this due to them being bigger people and having bigger things? Bigger dirty clothes to wash? Lots of bigger friends?
Genuinely interested as ours are all small and still have huge toys like toy kitchens and toot toot garages etc, I was kind of hoping time would help with the space issue a bit but I'm probably being naive!

OP posts:

Zanashar · 22/04/2025 17:22

Definitely get the extension done. Our house that we’ve now been in for 7 years sounds very similar to your current situation and last summer we finally took the plunge and had a small extension to the rear, knocking through the galley kitchen into the dining room and squaring off that space, as well as adding a narrow utility area stacked washer and dryer, plus a WC.
It was absolutely the best thing we did (ok so we had no hold last year ) and has given us a nice sized kitchen diner plus a sofa corner. We still have another downstairs room with sofas etc and moving the laundry etc out of the kitchen has allowed us to add a cute island.
zero regrets!
okay, so we had issues with our builder near the end (another story) which was somewhat stressful but it’s all worked out well!
I also wouldn’t dream of using borrowed money for holidays.
our total spend is close to about 100k but with the equity we have, added value and the fact that we do intend to stay here until DD 10 and DS 8 have grown up, it’s taken it from a nice home to a lovely home for us.