Your kitchen is outdated. The master bathroom hasn’t been updated since the 1980s. You’re outgrowing your space, or maybe you just can’t stand looking at that avocado green tile for one more day.
So you’re facing the big question: Do we invest tens of thousands into remodeling this house, or do we just sell and buy something that already has what we want?
It’s one of the most common conversations we have with homeowners. And here’s the truth – sometimes the right answer is to move. We’re not going to pretend remodeling is always the best choice just because we’re in the remodeling business.
But let’s look at the real costs, the hidden factors, and help you figure out what actually makes sense for your situation.
The Financial Side: Breaking Down Real Numbers
Let’s start with money, because that’s usually where the conversation begins.
The Cost of Moving
Moving costs way more than most people realize when they start adding everything up:
- Realtor commissions: Typically 5-6% of your home’s sale price. On a $300,000 home, that’s $15,000-$18,000 right off the top.
- Closing costs: Another 2-5% between buyer and seller costs. Figure another $6,000-$15,000.
- Moving expenses: Professional movers, truck rental, storage if timing doesn’t align, packing materials – easily $2,000-$5,000+.
- Overlap costs: If you can’t time it perfectly, you’re paying two mortgages, or rent plus mortgage, during the transition.
- Immediate repairs in new home: That “move-in ready” house almost always needs something right away. New paint, landscaping, fixing things the inspector missed.
- New furniture and window treatments: Your old stuff doesn’t always fit or work in the new layout.
- Higher property taxes: Moving up often means higher annual costs you’ll pay forever.
- Increased utilities: Bigger homes cost more to heat, cool, and maintain.
All in, moving can easily cost $30,000-$50,000+ in direct expenses and transition costs, even before you factor in the emotional toll.
The Cost of Remodeling
A major kitchen remodel might run $40,000-$80,000+. A luxury bathroom could be $25,000-$50,000+. Multiple projects add up quickly.
But here’s the key difference: you’re investing in YOUR home. You’re not paying realtor commissions and closing costs that vanish into thin air. You’re adding value and getting exactly what you want.
The ROI Reality Check
Let’s be realistic about return on investment. Most remodeling projects return 50-80% of their cost when you sell. A $60,000 kitchen remodel might add $40,000-$50,000 to your home’s value.
But here’s what people miss: if you’re not selling for 5-10+ years, you get to enjoy that upgraded space for a decade. What’s the value of loving your kitchen every day for ten years? That’s not measured in resale value alone.
Plus, if you’re comparing remodeling to moving, you’re going to lose $30,000-$50,000 just in the process of moving. That money is completely gone. At least with remodeling, you retain significant value in your home.
The Numbers Don’t Tell the Whole Story
Here’s where it gets interesting. The financial comparison is important, but it’s rarely the deciding factor once you dig deeper.
Location and Neighborhood
You can’t remodel your location. If you love your neighborhood, have great neighbors, are close to work, near family, in excellent school districts, that has enormous value that doesn’t show up on a spreadsheet.
Finding another home in the same area with the features you want might be impossible or prohibitively expensive. Moving to a different area to get those features means giving up the location advantages you already have.
The Known vs. The Unknown
You know your home’s quirks, its maintenance history, what’s been updated and what hasn’t. You know the roof is solid because you replaced it three years ago. You know the furnace runs great. You know where the property lines are and how the drainage works.
That house you’re considering buying? It’s full of unknowns. The inspector will catch major issues, but plenty of problems don’t show up until you’ve lived there for six months. We’ve seen countless homeowners buy their “dream home” only to discover it needs $50,000 in unexpected repairs within the first year.
Emotional Attachment and Memories
Some people don’t care about this. Others care deeply. If this is where you brought your babies home, where your kids took their first steps, where decades of memories live and that matters. You can’t put a price on that for some families.
For others, the house is just a structure and they’re ready to move on. Both perspectives are valid.
The Hassle Factor
Moving is exhausting. Packing up an entire household, coordinating timing, dealing with paperwork, changing addresses everywhere, getting kids settled in new schools, building new routines.
Remodeling is also disruptive. Living through construction isn’t fun. But you’re disrupting your life for a few months, not uprooting it entirely.
When Remodeling Makes More Sense
Remodeling is typically the better choice when:
You love everything except a few specific things Your neighborhood is perfect, your lot is great, the bones of the house are solid – you just hate the kitchen and bathrooms. Fix what’s broken, keep what works.
The market doesn’t offer what you want in your price range If finding a comparable home in your area with updated features would cost $100,000+ more than your current home’s value plus remodeling costs, staying put makes financial sense.
You’ve built equity and have a great mortgage rate If you locked in a 3% mortgage a few years ago, giving that up for a 7% rate on a more expensive home could cost you hundreds of thousands over the life of the loan.
Your home’s layout and size work for your family If you don’t need more space or a different layout, cosmetic and functional upgrades can completely transform how your home feels without the massive expense of moving.
You’re planning to stay for 5+ years The longer your timeline, the more sense it makes to invest in your current home. You’ll enjoy the improvements for years and recoup much of the cost when you eventually sell.
You can remodel in phases Do the kitchen now, bathrooms in two years, basement later. You can’t buy half a house and move into it.
When Moving Makes More Sense
Sometimes remodeling isn’t the answer, and we’ll be honest about that:
You need significantly more or less space You can’t remodel your way into an extra 1,000 square feet without massive expense. If your family has outgrown the home or you’re empty nesters rattling around in too much space, moving makes more sense.
The home’s layout doesn’t work and can’t be fixed Some floor plans are just awkward, and fixing them would require moving load-bearing walls, replumbing, rewiring, essentially rebuilding the house. At that point, you’re better off finding a home with a layout that works.
Major systems need replacement If your roof, HVAC, electrical panel, and plumbing all need updating on top of cosmetic renovations, you’re looking at such a massive investment that buying a newer home might make more sense.
You’re unhappy with the location If you hate your commute, the schools aren’t good, the neighborhood has changed, or you’re just in the wrong area, no amount of remodeling fixes that. Location is the one thing you absolutely can’t change.
The foundation or structure has serious issues Settling foundations, major water damage, structural problems – these can make a home a money pit. Sometimes it’s better to cut your losses and find something solid.
You’re ready for a fresh start There’s nothing wrong with wanting a change. If the house holds bad memories, if you’re ready for a new chapter, if you just want something different, that’s a valid reason to move.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before making a decision, work through these questions honestly:
- If we could snap our fingers and have our ideal kitchen/bathroom/basement in this house, would we want to stay for at least 5 more years? If the answer is no, remodeling probably doesn’t make sense.
- What would it cost to buy a comparable home in our area that already has what we want? Do the actual research. Look at listings. The gap between imagination and reality is often huge.
- What’s our current mortgage rate vs. what we’d get on a new home? This matters more than people realize in the current market.
- Are we trying to solve a problem remodeling can fix, or are we unhappy with the home’s fundamentals? Outdated finishes = remodel can solve it. Wrong size, wrong location = moving solves it.
- Can we realistically afford to remodel without completely draining our savings? You need emergency reserves. Don’t put yourselves in a financially precarious position.
- What’s the real estate market like right now? In a seller’s market, moving up is expensive. In a buyer’s market, you might find great deals.
The Hidden Costs Nobody Talks About
Moving’s Hidden Costs:
- Time off work for house hunting, inspections, closings
- Stress and relationship strain (moving is consistently ranked as one of life’s most stressful events)
- Kids changing schools mid-year
- Building new community connections from scratch
- Learning new routes, new stores, new everything
- Potentially higher insurance costs in a new area
Remodeling’s Hidden Costs:
- Living through construction mess and disruption
- Discovering unexpected issues once walls are opened
- Project delays due to material availability or permit issues
- Temporary lifestyle changes (can’t cook during kitchen remodel)
- Decision fatigue from constant choices about materials and design
Both paths have challenges. The question is which set of challenges you’re better equipped to handle.
Our Honest Take
After 35 years in this business, here’s what we’ve learned: the families who are happiest with their decision to remodel are the ones who genuinely want to stay in their home and location. They see remodeling as an investment in their life, not just their house.
The families who regret remodeling are usually the ones who did it because they felt they “should” or because moving seemed too complicated – but they really wanted to be somewhere else.
We’re not here to talk you into a remodel if moving is the right answer for your family. We’d rather have you make the decision that’s best for your situation, even if it means we don’t get your business.
Because here’s the thing: happy clients who made the right decision become our best referrals. Clients who remodeled when they should have moved end up unhappy, and that’s not good for anyone.
Making the Decision
Here’s a practical approach:
- Get real quotes for the remodeling work you’re considering. Don’t guess at costs.
- Spend a few weekends seriously house hunting. See what’s actually available in your price range plus remodeling costs.
- Run the numbers including all the hidden costs of moving.
- Have honest conversations with your family about what you really want. Not what you think you should want – what you actually want.
- Give yourself permission to choose either path. There’s no “right” answer that applies to everyone.
The Bottom Line
For some families, investing $75,000 in remodeling a home they love is the smartest decision they’ll ever make. For others, that same $75,000 is better spent as a down payment on a home that already meets their needs.
The key is being honest about what you’re trying to solve and what matters most to your family.
Remodeling makes sense when you’re in the right location, have the right size and layout, and just need to update the finishes and functionality. It makes even more sense when you’re planning to stay for many years and can enjoy the improvements.
Moving makes sense when your fundamental needs aren’t being met – wrong size, wrong location, wrong layout and remodeling can’t fix those issues.
Both are significant investments. Both have pros and cons. The “right” answer is whichever option aligns best with your family’s priorities, financial situation, and long-term plans.
We’re here to help you think it through, and whether you decide to remodel or move, we wish you the best.
Still on the fence? Medina Exteriors and Remodeling offers free consultations to discuss your situation, provide honest assessments, and help you understand your options. With 35 years of experience, we’ve seen every scenario and can give you straight answers about whether remodeling makes sense for your home. Contact us today. No pressure, just honest advice.
