Far from wanting to downsize and get a smaller house when the children have fled the nest, many older homeowners love the idea of adding to their property, in the form of a conservatory.
To find out why they want to extend their living space in their retirement years, read on.
Cost of moving house
Firstly, the cost of moving house can be very steep these days, even for those who are downsizing. According to Compare My Move, homeowners spend an average of £12,187 to both buy a new place and sell their house.
This is due to stamp duty costs, property surveyors, conveyancing fees, valuation expenses, estate agents, and getting energy performance certificates for the existing house. Removal vans, postal redirection, and other expenses also play a part in steep moving bills.
However, the expenses could be much greater still. For instance, if you are selling a £700,000 house and moving 50 miles away to a smaller £300,000 property, you will need to budget £20,055 just in moving house fees.
That is why lots of homeowners are considering putting their savings into their current home, instead of spending tens of thousands of pounds just to have a smaller residence.
Benefits of having a larger house
There are also lots of benefits to having a bigger property, even if the children have long gone.
For a start, it is nice to have a place they can always return to, so it does not just have to be a fleeting visit when they return home.
They might also want to come and stay with their partner and possibly their children in the future, and so you will need enough bedrooms, a large kitchen, and enough living space to fit everyone comfortably.
When it comes to large family gatherings, such as Christmas or birthdays, it is important there is somewhere everyone can meet up. That is why lots of parents want to keep their big house, and even extend it, so they can host their grown-up children and grandkids to create those special memories.
Of course, with all the toys and baby equipment little ones need, they’ll be glad they didn’t opt for a two-up-two-down, after all.
Benefits of conservatories
As well as staying put in their family home, many older people are choosing to add to their property’s footprint by fitting a traditional conservatory on to the back of their house.
There are many advantages of doing this, including:
More space for family get togethers
As previously mentioned, when the kids grow up, they don’t just take up more room because of their tall stature, but because they tend to bring along partners, children and even in-laws when they visit too.
Therefore, it is nice to have plenty of room for everyone to sit, eat, and chat, and even better when there is a separate living area where the kids can play without disturbing adult conversation.
Lets the natural sunlight in
The large floor-to-ceiling windows in a conservatory mean the room is flooded with natural daylight. This has great health benefits, particularly for those in their twilight years.
These include boosting vitamin D levels, strengthening bones, bolstering the immune system, helping them to sleep, reducing the risk of respiratory infections and type II diabetes, and improving mood.
It also helps to regulate their circadian rhythm, which helps the body produce more melatonin and enables them to sleep better. By getting more, and better quality, sleep, they can have more energy to take part in physical activities and can boost their mental health.
Brings the garden indoors
With more time on their hands, lots of people in their retirement enjoy spending time either tending to, or looking at, their garden. They can appreciate nature, the change in seasons, their hard work in maintaining their outdoor space, and looking after something more than those with busy work schedules or hectic family life.
However, the older you get, the more you feel the chill. You tend to feel colder due to a slower circulation system, thinning skin, a decline in metabolic rate, or side effects of medication.
Therefore, it can be difficult to spend a lot of time outdoors, taking in the view of the garden, when it is a bit fresh outside. Living in the UK, it can often be chilly, even in the spring and summer, which is why many people like to have a conservatory instead.
Here, they can sit on their sofa and look out at their garden through the floor-to-ceiling windows while still remaining warm and comfortable indoors.
Modern conservatories are energy-efficient and well-insulated, so homeowners do not have to worry about them being too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. They are just the right temperature for everyone to enjoy a resultful space, either connecting with their loved ones or appreciating nature.