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Should we spend £50k on our kitchen or consider moving?

75 replies

Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 18:57

In a bit of a quandary and any advice welcome. I’m 58, husband nearly 65. We have lived in our detached 3 bed house 34 years, brought the children up here. The only problem with the house is the kitchen; it’s a small galley style narrow one and I would love a wide open kitchen with an island. We have a big conservatory off the kitchen and have had some people in to look at knocking the kitchen wall down and making one big kitchen with dining table and sofa, tv etc. We think this will come in at around £50k as having new boiler and a decent kitchen with all appliances, quooker tap, inbuilt everything, new doors etc. Our quandary is is this reasonable or should we move? I am reluctant to do this as we like where we are, garden not overlooked, near town centre and beach, all 5 mins walk away. It’s a 30’s house so rooms bigger than new build apart from kitchen. Having looked at what’s around on sale it’s either no character new build or houses like ours that need everything doing, kitchen, bathroom, decor. We also have 35 years of stuff to sort if move and hubby is a bit of a hoarder in certain hobbies! Just putting feelers out for thoughts? We haven’t moved in 34 years so it’s all scary to me!!!

OP posts:
Sprig1 · 04/07/2026 19:05

I would do the work.

EightSteps · 04/07/2026 19:06

Honestly, I wouldn't move if you live everything about your house except the kitchen.

50k seems a bit on the low side though. Are you sure about the cost?

Jellybean23 · 04/07/2026 19:09

You have to make your mind up - is it your forever home or not? If it is and you can afford it, have the new kitchen. You probably won’t add £50K to the value of the house but if you’re staying put, it doesn’t matter.

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 04/07/2026 19:10

I'd do the work if you can afford it. If you love your house there's no reason to move.

My kitchen is part conservatory and it works really well.

itsnotfairisit · 04/07/2026 19:12

We’re doing just this (tho it’s costing g considerably more than 50k!). We really like our neighbourhood and after looking around a decided we liked where we were, although it could be imprived
similar ages too!

Onceuponatimethen · 04/07/2026 19:14

Stamp duty can be a fair bit along with costs of conveyancing, survey, estate agent fees any remortgage fee and removal people. So staying put does save some costs even if you do decide to spend the £50k

MegMortimer · 04/07/2026 19:14

If you like it there and the area suits, I would stay and have the work done on the kitchen, OP.

tarheelbaby · 04/07/2026 19:18

Especially if you are in the south, you'd easily spend £50k just on fees: stamp duty, conveyancing, surveys and more! @Onceuponatimethen is right) and you might have to up-size and that would just add more ££, so if you like your area I think you're better off extending: at least you'd have something to show for it. I'd get lots of quotes though: £50k is a lot of money.
And also, if your appliances are not on their last legs, I'd look at incorporating them - I think 'new, matching appliances' is a place where costs can go crazy and it's so sad for the planet to junk working tech.

Ilovewimbledone · 04/07/2026 19:22

As a contractor, unless your kitchen and conservatory are 3ft sq, you won’t do that for £50k. If you knock through, you need to put a proper roof on the conservatory or the heat gain/loss will be unbearable. By the time you factor in the things you mention? Decent kitchen, appliances, boiler, Quooker tap, doors? I’d say you’ll be closer to £100k, probably more.

Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 19:25

Ilovewimbledone · 04/07/2026 19:22

As a contractor, unless your kitchen and conservatory are 3ft sq, you won’t do that for £50k. If you knock through, you need to put a proper roof on the conservatory or the heat gain/loss will be unbearable. By the time you factor in the things you mention? Decent kitchen, appliances, boiler, Quooker tap, doors? I’d say you’ll be closer to £100k, probably more.

We are not in the south and have been quoted. The conservatory has a proper roof so that’s not an issue.

OP posts:
Ilovewimbledone · 04/07/2026 19:31

Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 19:25

We are not in the south and have been quoted. The conservatory has a proper roof so that’s not an issue.

Ok, check the quote with a fine tooth comb. Do you have drawings that they are quoting off? If you do, send them off to Estimators on Line. It will cost you about £125 and you will get an incredibly detailed, accurate quote. If you don’t? What have they quoted you for and off? Up to you but I hate to see people get ripped off….

Mumof2wifeof1crazytimes · 04/07/2026 19:33

We did something similar about 7 years ago and would definitely recommend improving your home rather than moving due to all the fees you will have to pay. £50k is a very low quote if you ask me, a new kitchen will cost about £20k. Ours cost £80k for everything including appliances and kitchen, a family member who is a builder did it for us so we made savings there as he did not take his cut on the materials. Just added we are in the north of England if that helps for pricing.

2chocolateoranges · 04/07/2026 19:35

Personally if i had lived with a galley kitchen for that length of time I’d just keep living with it, I certainly wouldn’t move, not at that age. I’m late 40s and never plan on moving, far too stressful!

FlipFlopZebra · 04/07/2026 19:36

I’d say do the work, it seems good value the quote when you consider moving is £10ks.

SaveOurSnails · 04/07/2026 19:44

You’ve lived with it so long, do you really want it to be changed so badly? Either do the work or stick with it. I don’t think you should move unless you feel some sort of retirement property / elderly accommodation with various support available suits your needs better. If you need a bungalow etc.

almondflake · 04/07/2026 19:44

We did the work, changed the conservatory and kitchen into 1 room with a new roof and absolutely love it , did it over a couple of years, which I wouldn’t recommend , to save money but now it’s done it’s my most favourite room .
the solid roof made such a difference, it’s a beautiful room and I’m so glad we made the decision to get it done .
if you like your house and location like we did I’d say go for it .

Didimum · 04/07/2026 19:47

We did the same for £40k, OP. New kitchen, flooring, appliances, new windows and patio doors, wall down, new downstairs loo and utility room, built in cupboards in boot room.

Pickledonions12 · 04/07/2026 19:48

Definitely get that quote checked. It seems low

TheCurious0range · 04/07/2026 19:48

Our kitchen is a decent size galley to take it back to brick and install a new kitchen cost 30k last year and there was no building work as such no knocking through etc. If you can get all of that for 50k you either live somewhere very cheap or the builder will start adding on unforeseen extras..

Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 19:52

Bulbsbulbsbulbs · 04/07/2026 19:10

I'd do the work if you can afford it. If you love your house there's no reason to move.

My kitchen is part conservatory and it works really well.

Is it? We don’t use the conservatory at all really unless we have people to dinner so it will make use of it. A lot of people saying it’s too cheap but we are on the east coast not down south so probably cheaper.

OP posts:
Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 19:53

Sprig1 · 04/07/2026 19:05

I would do the work.

Thank you I think that is what we will do

OP posts:
Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 19:54

EightSteps · 04/07/2026 19:06

Honestly, I wouldn't move if you live everything about your house except the kitchen.

50k seems a bit on the low side though. Are you sure about the cost?

Yes we are we have great people overseeing the work

OP posts:
Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 19:56

Didimum · 04/07/2026 19:47

We did the same for £40k, OP. New kitchen, flooring, appliances, new windows and patio doors, wall down, new downstairs loo and utility room, built in cupboards in boot room.

Thank you; have so many people saying that’s too low but we have very reliable and decent contractors overseeing the whole job!

OP posts:
Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 19:57

Didimum · 04/07/2026 19:47

We did the same for £40k, OP. New kitchen, flooring, appliances, new windows and patio doors, wall down, new downstairs loo and utility room, built in cupboards in boot room.

Thank you! People are saying the quote is too low but we have very reliable and trustworthy contractors overseeing the whole project !

OP posts:
Doximama2 · 04/07/2026 19:59

almondflake · 04/07/2026 19:44

We did the work, changed the conservatory and kitchen into 1 room with a new roof and absolutely love it , did it over a couple of years, which I wouldn’t recommend , to save money but now it’s done it’s my most favourite room .
the solid roof made such a difference, it’s a beautiful room and I’m so glad we made the decision to get it done .
if you like your house and location like we did I’d say go for it .

Thank you, we know it will be just perfect have the Cad drawings and it’s going to be just what we want, I really feel this is the best option for us

OP posts: