Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

We are deciding whether we should get a larger home or do major reconstruction, we have 3 kids and want 1 more and we are outgrowing our 3 bedroom ranch QUICKLY! I have been looking, but if we move we will have to look at $900,000 homes or even more with much higher taxes than ours (we live in Huntington). Any thoughts? I think it will be about $200,000 for all the remodeling we want to do.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

I think since you have a ranch it would probably be cheaper for you to remodel especially if you like your home and location. I don't know if you would be able to live in the house during remodeling but I say then you get your house to be exactly like you want it.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

We are faced with the same decision (although no more kids for us!) and while we love our area, we do not love our house (I am not a fan of the style house we have). For us its simple, we want to move to a bigger house, in the same area, however, at this time we can't afford the prices, even though we would have a great downpayment with the sale of our current house.

If you love where you are, then I would consider remodeling/expanding, especially since you have a ranch, its very doable.

Message edited 3/25/2006 10:09:34 AM.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

I think moving is easier than having to live in your home with 3 children during major construction...BUT that doesn't mean it's the best choice.

Do you like your location? The SD, the property size & layout? Can your property accomodate a larger home?

As others have said, ranches are pretty easy to add a second story on to.


Or do you want to move? Can you afford it? if yes, start browsing to see whats out there in the SD(s) and location(s) you want. The problem is even though the bigger homes in Huntington are $900K, they usually need work which equals more money.


My DH and I go back and forth over this all the time (we live in Huntington as well.)

Message edited 3/25/2006 11:09:17 AM.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

You also need to figure in how much more your taxes are going to go up with remodeling. I have a friend who just remodeld in Melville - and was floored when he got his final tax bill.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

we could build out if we wanted, but have decided it would not be a good idea as far as we are concerned because the neighborhood (surrounding streets) really doesn't call for it.

we are surrounded by smaller, starter-type homes, increasing the size of our house would IMO not yield a great ROI. if we were the smallest, crappiest house on the block, and were in prime location...well, then we would reconsider...

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

I though taxes were based on sq. footage. Also 200,000 sounds like a HUGE investement. You're talking a 2nd story and prob new kitchens and baths?

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

My gf just did this. She said it was the worst thing she ever could have done.

She couldnt live in the house for 4 months, contractors are always off on their time estimates

She said it would have been less aggrevation to buy another home..

Just a comment

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

We are in the same boat right now. I love our house and we have a great lot (almost an acre that back up to woods :D ) We also have descent taxes right now and I'm nercous for what we would get hit with on a new home. Although like you mentioned, I dread dealing with contracters in and out all day and the reno we would need coudl cost around 200k also.

Our house was originally my husbands grandparents house and i'm trying to lean more toward an addition just for sentimental purposes.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

DH and I are struggling with the same decision. We love where we live but we are not happy with the layout of our house. We are trying to decide between remodeling it to make it the way we want (which would basically entail turning a hi-ranch into a colonial ) or just buying another house. We decided that we are going to start getting estimates for the work we want to do, weigh all the pros and cons, and then decide.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

We are considering the same thing down the road.

Our house is similar in style to this one... with the carport on the left.




We are considering expanding into the carport... to add a garage and a dining room behind it. We don't plan on going up.


I have no clue what something like this would cost.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

It may be possible for you to live in in your house while the work is done.
My parents have a cape & the 2nd floor attic rooms turned into a full 2nd floor with 4 rooms & a bathroom & we all lived on the first floor for the summer.

There was some work done on the first floor, but I think it was done after we moved upstairs. We were older though-10 & 12, so we spent a lot of time out of the house & 2 weeks with relatives.

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

my cousin just finished doing this - she wanted to stay living next to her mother and turned a small 3 bedroom, 1 bath ranch into a 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath colonial - they had to move out- she thought it would take 4 months- took about 7 or 8 - she had just had her 4th kid - they had to take the house to the shell to add the 2nd story becuse the house originally was not build that well -they lived with her parents during the construction

for her it was worth it because my dad covered some of the renovations cost, and they liked the neighborhood and schools, but it caused a lot of stress on my cousin - she was barely sleeping during the time

but now she has the house she always wanted and it is beautiful

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

Re: Easier to move or have major reconstruction?

I have no idea but I have to at 1.2million. I think I have been gone from NY too long. Those prices still have shock value with me.

I will say I HATED HATED HATED just having one room and bathroom in our previous house done. If you don't have to live there and they stay on schedule it might not bed so bad.