With several markets (including housing and construction) in a state of flux due to a range of global conditions, tariffs, and supply chain challenges, many homeowners have become hesitant to invest in upgrades to their home – from renovations to house extensions.
This is a perfectly understandable concern as people debate house extensions costs in 2026 and beyond. So, knowing the right time to invest in an extension can feel like an impossible task in the current climate.
If you’re one such homeowner who’s been questioning when to build a house extension with a home-build company, there are still plenty of reasons why now is the opportune time to get things started. Let’s take a closer look at why this is the case.
A House Extension is About More Than Property Value
When it comes to building a house extension, it’s important to remember that this is rarely a decision driven purely by the desire to increase property value. More often than not, an extension is undertaken to cater to the evolving needs of a family. Perhaps you have another kid on the way, want a proper entertainment area to cater to more friends (and the families) of your children, or an elderly family member needs to move in and live with you.
Given many of these reasons are time-specific, delaying an extension project could also impact the core lifestyle needs you’re aiming to address.
You’re Expanding Your Home to Match Your Family’s Lifestyle Needs
The simple truth is that the growth of your family never waits for your home to grow with it – so, if you want an extension, you need to take the dive to make it happen. And while the costs of extensions may be increasing over time (as with all other facets of home builds), they’re still typically going to be a far more cost-effective and realistic option than buying a new, larger home.
Building Material Costs Only Get More Expensive
Another key point is that, regardless of perceptions related to the current material and labour costs associated with a house extension job, these rarely (if ever) become more affordable with time. Generally, material and labour costs increase with every passing year, regardless of market conditions such as inflation or tariffs. If you hold off too long in the hopes that prices will go down, you’ll likely find yourself only wishing you’d started sooner.
There is No Time Like the Present for a House Extension
Now, let’s take a closer look at why now is still the best time to explore a house extension.
While Building Material Costs Go Up, So Does Labour Expenditures
We already touched on how building material costs typically trend upwards every year, regardless of exceptional circumstances (tariffs, shipping costs, etc.), but keep in mind that the same applies to labour expenditures. This is particularly true when you’re looking to get a bespoke construction project handled, such as with end-to-end house extensions. So, holding off will also likely lead to increased labour costs, which can also be increased as a means of trying to offset the growing costs resulting from global supply chain uncertainties.
Take Advantage of Quieter Construction Months
A step we’d strongly recommend is take advantage of quieter construction months. So, if you’re looking into extension work in the autumn or winter, don’t let the cooler weather deter you. Because, when construction demand goes down, the costs can be more manageable than peak construction months.
Another benefit is that this can also often result in faster site construction progress and the extension could be completed in time for the warmer months when more people are at home, so you can get the most out of your new space sooner.
Fixed-Price Contracts Provide Cost Certainty in Uncertain Times
If you want genuine financial certainty during these financially uncertain times, it’s beneficial to go with a design and build company that offers fixed-price contracts. As the name suggests, the final contract pricing you receive will be exactly what you pay in the end – there are no nasty surprises or hidden costs along the way.
At Sherbrooke Design and Construction, when you receive an initial budget estimate, this estimate is guaranteed to fall within 5% of the final fixed-price contract. So, from the get-go, you’ll know the exact pricing window so you can move forward with confidence. This provides a level of certainty that is invaluable in the current market.
After-Build Support Provides Long-Term Confidence
Along with fixed-price contracts, another key benefit of engaging with Sherbrooke Design and Construction is that you receive after-build support that goes beyond industry standards. Within the home building industry, home-builders are only required to conduct a regulatory 3-month warranty review on their work. Outside of that, most builders walk away from the job once it’s complete.
At Sherbrooke, we do things differently. Along with the regulation 3-month review, we also conduct a 6-week and 12-month review of your build as part of our Sherbrooke for Life program. That’s because we stand behind our work and know that house-build operations can take time to settle after completion.
Along with our complimentary reviews, our Online Communications Portal will also remain active so you can simply log in and place any warranty or maintenance requests. These are then sent through to our dedicated Maintenance and Warranty Team.
By offering this long-term after-build support, it provides even greater peace of mind and long-term confidence in the final extension build.
If you’re in the market for a bespoke home extension build and are ready to make an investment for the future of your family and lifestyle, get in touch with Sherbrooke Design and Construction today to book a consultation.
