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

[Doximama2]

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!!!

We had our kitchen extended when we’d been in the house 20 years and we were in our early 60s. I had this vision of a big kitchen table where my grandchildren could sit whilst I cooked dinner. My builder advised that it wouldn’t add value, but would make the house sell much more easily.

Haven't regretted it for a moment. We love it. If you moved, they’d be a downside there as well as stamp duty. Build the house that suits you.

Would absolutely fix kitchen and not move if location good .. but tbf at your age would look at future proofing as well ... So make sure decent size downstairs loo/bathroom..easy access around the house (my pil ended up with mobility issues out of the blue it was difficult and expensive to sort quickly) not talking rails etc but turning space in loo and getting in and out of the house was a complete pain!

Thank you for this! Just what I am imagining

Deff do the kitchen. Moving is SO expensive and you love everything else!

this! It's much better for the environment too. spend the money on something more fun

We have altered our house 3 times from 1988 onwards. Last time in 2011 and got rid of a useless conservatory and put the new kitchen in that space. It’s a big kitchen and is in an oak framed conservatory now. Just that building alone was £70,000 in 2011, never mind all the plumbing, flooring and kitchen units. You might get it all done for £50,000 but I think in 2026, that’s tight.

Our house is worth a lot though but we like it so it was worth it. I love a big welcoming kitchen and the table is just off the kitchen as is extensive seating. If you love where you are, do the work. It will make you happy every day.

It took us years to realise our kitchen was in the wrong part of the house. An architect friend made a suggestion about moving it and how right that was! You might be there for another 20 years so do it.

I would do the work but scrap the island. They take up so much space.

@FrugalinBrighton If you have space they are wonderful. Love mine and it’s a whopper!

Moving is mega expensive, if you have the £50K it might be money well spent as you spend such a lot of daily life in that area of the house.

if the rest of the home is ok then do the kitchen; no telling you if you could find a house with suitable kitchen. If you do something else might be wrong. doing the kitchen will add to the value if you wish to move in the future

OP . Re-read your post. The answer is clear: do the work and stay in your home. Why move from what sounds a perfect location? Whilst kitchen renovations can be stressful it's not for ever and far less stressful and cheaper then selling up and moving. Good luck and all will be well

Would recommend staying. We did ours for around £70k but that’s because my husband was able to do lots of the work.

^ this. Plus getting any new house the at you want it will cost (plus any unexpected surprises like new boilers etc)

Thank you!

Moving is more expensive. It’s very hard work and stressful as well.

I’d stay and do the kitchen up as you suggest. Moving costs are huge these days.

I'm interested in this as thinking of doing the same. I agree , your quote seems very low. I don't even know how to start with planning or how to organise it all. Tips would be welcome!

Once you factor in paying stamp duty and the cost of moving £50k is a bargain. And three bedroom means you can still have visitors, each have a study/sewing room whatever you like. It sounds like the perfect place to stay in.

Do the work.

But for the LOVE OF GOD sort the hoarding out. Don't leave it for another 30 years for your kids to deal with when you're gone. They'll thank you so much.

If you love the house and location still, and don't need to unlock some cash, it sounds like a definite goer to me.

We are in a not dissimilar situation but my conclusion is to move because our costings are more like £150k! (SE).

If you love your house and where you live you should stay and improve your house.

Do the work. £50k versus all the costs of movibg,do a declutter now and prep for a lovely new living space. This time next year you’ll be glad you’ve done it I promise!

OP, I stayed where I was, and I had the same issue of a larger living room but it was off the kitchen, and a small dining room which was not!

I got the wall taken down between both rooms and I gave less space to what I called the "back room" ie living area as it was, and more to the front (original dining room), then swapped them around and have a great kitchen/diner now. I needed an RSJ (steel) where the wall came down but it was worth it.

I went for broke, at 65 - gulp, and did everything I could afford and really dipped into savings. Downstairs Futility with loo and shower, new everything, kitchen, floors, doors, staircase (to facilitate the Futility), new bathroom upstairs, new attic water tank, rewired etc. and that was 3 years ago. I had a terrific builder and it all came in under 100k. Worth every single penny. Like you I love my house, the neighbours, the area, the convenience and TBH the familiarity of everything!

Best of luck with your plans. I think staying and doing sounds like a great plan!

From my own experience a couple of years ago, I'd say move. I will never, ever again have any renovation work done in my home. I am in awe of those who can stand it. It nearly drove me to the edge if all reason.

First - take your budget, and double it. And then add on a bit more. Our budget just went out of the window. Taking all expenses into account, it would have been cheaper for us to move house.

Second - if you love your house and location, and the finances don't scare you off, then if at all possible, move out whilst the work is taking place. The mess. The dust. The noise. And unfortunately, in our case, the swearing of the uncouth builders. It was just awful.

As I said - never again!

Yes i’d do the work. Sounds like you love your home, so makes perfect sense to do the work.