Improve not move

One of the most common reasons why people move house is the need for more space. It could be that the family is growing in number, whether from the bottom up with a blossoming brood, or from the top down with elderly parents in need of a little of hands on TLC. Or perhaps the kids are just getting too big, both for their boots and the cosy confines of the current family home.

However, the financial costs associated with buying and selling a property are large and the stress involved can be immeasurable. This will be particularly acute if you are all happily settled in your current situation, with the kids in schools that they love and the whole family enjoying the incalculable benefits of a close support network of friends, family and neighbours.

The latest figures for house sales show a recent, significant drop in the supply of houses for sale in the UK. Meanwhile, planning applications are exhibiting an upward trend and DIY sales in 2015 rose 13%, reaching their highest level since the crash. So it would appear that many are now choosing to improve their existing homes rather than move, and here are just a few of the reasons why.

Firstly, consider the cost of buying and selling. Based on the average British house price of £210,000, the stamp duty, mid-range surveyors and estate agents fees, legal bills, local searches and removal costs will all add up to around £7,500. And that is before you decide you need to redecorate the new property or upgrade its wet rooms, or possibly spend more on a longer commute. Which brings us neatly on to the second negative aspect of moving: stress.

The whole process, right up till the last minute, is fraught with emotion and (to be brutally frank) greed. It is a toxic mix and few of us emerge unscathed by the whims and vagaries of all the parties involved in a tenuous housing chain. Whilst we are feeling emotionally drained by the housing buy and sell system and physically spent by the endless calls to solicitors, lenders and estate agents, we then have to contend with packing, cleaning and unpacking the last x years of our family’s lives. Oh yes, we need also to be emotionally available to the kids, who will inevitably be feeling unsettled and apprehensive about leaving behind their schools and friends.

So, if it is more space you are after, it is worth considering extending your existing home, from both a financial and psychological perspective. Of course, this too involves a certain amount of cost and effort, particularly if you are planning on managing the project yourself in order to avoid the expense of an architect. And if you decide to traditionally extend the main dwelling there will be a lot of disruption and mess with which you must contend, often for a fairly lengthy period. Not to mention the often thwarted attempts to co-ordinate the services of builders, joiners, plumbers and electricians which can add weeks to a project.

However, creating additional living space in an underutilised spot in the back garden presents a solution to many of the pitfalls associated with a traditional extension build. Choosing a turnkey provider of bespoke outdoor living spaces, such as the Garden Escape, will cut down significantly on mess, time and (more often than not) expense.

Reap the benefits of beautiful architectural design, tailored to your own unique requirements, and guaranteed to be sympathetic to the environment on a local and global scale. Planning applications and building regulation compliance will be dealt with on your behalf, as will the management of the team of craftsmen that will construct your modular building in a fraction of the time of a traditional build.

This is what a few of TG Escapes customers had to say about their experience.

"...their sheer efficiency was wonderful. The build process was very easy. The two guys worked for a week and it was as if they weren’t here. Very impressive."

"Working with The Garden Escape was a personal and comfortable experience. The team helped us create the perfect garden room for our family home. I would recommend them to anyone."

"Developing our outdoor space with The Garden Escape was completely stress free."