Homeowner Advice
How to Know Whether to Remodel or Move
[Publish date set when the article goes live] · 5 min read
Most homeowners who call a builder are somewhere in the middle of this question. The house isn't working, but moving is disruptive and expensive in its own way. The useful way to sort it out is to separate what can be changed from what can't.
Start with what can't change
Location, lot size, commute, schools, and neighborhood are fixed. If those are the problem, remodeling won't solve it. If those are the reason you bought the house in the first place, that's a strong argument for staying and changing the building instead.
Then look at what can
Floor plans, kitchens, bathrooms, storage, natural light, and square footage are all changeable. Some changes are straightforward; others depend on structure, mechanicals, and how the house was originally built.
- Walls that can be opened up versus walls carrying load
- Whether the lot allows an addition
- Ceiling height and basement conditions
- The age and condition of systems already in the house
Get a real read before deciding
A short conversation with a builder early on usually clarifies more than weeks of guessing. You'll learn what your house can reasonably become, and that's the information the decision actually turns on.
If you're weighing this right now, we're glad to talk it through with you.
Have a project you're thinking through? Call (703) 282-9284 or start a conversation below.