Renovate or Move House in Belgium in 2026 - Financial and Practical Comparison

The Short Answer

RENOVATE OR MOVE? BOTH HAVE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES!

Aspect	Renovate	Move
Costs	€50k-€150k	€11,300-€41,300 Notary (Depending on 2% or 12.5% registration duty)
Timing	3-6 months	2-3 months
Disruption	0 moves (You stay!)	1 full move
Return	70-90% recouped	Not always
Best for	Growing family in a favourite neighbourhood	Changing needs
Mortgage rate 2026	Same (3.2-3.5%)	New (3.2-3.5%, but higher costs)

1. Renovating: the details

Renovation cost breakdown

SMALL RENOVATION (Kitchen + Bathroom refresh):

Kitchen update: €15,000-€25,000
Bathroom update: €8,000-€15,000
Tiling / painting / decorating: €5,000-€10,000
Electrical adjustments: €2,000-€4,000
TOTAL: €30,000-€54,000

MEDIUM RENOVATION (Multiple rooms + insulation):

Full kitchen renovation: €20,000-€35,000
Bathroom completely redone: €12,000-€20,000
Insulation / roofwork: €20,000-€40,000
Electricity + plumbing: €5,000-€10,000
TOTAL: €57,000-€105,000

FULL RENOVATION (Entire house from scratch):

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Everything new (walls, floors, etc.): €150,000-€250,000
Structural works (beams, window frames): €40,000-€100,000
Full rewiring (all new electrical cabling): €15,000-€30,000
TOTAL: €205,000-€380,000+

UNEXPECTED COSTS: ALWAYS add a 15-20% buffer!

Advantages of renovating

EMOTIONAL ADVANTAGES:
✅ Stay in your favourite neighbourhood (family, friends, school all stay nearby!)
✅ School, friends and family remain close (no disruption)
✅ Less stress (no moving house with kids!)
✅ Normal routine is preserved (children thrive on stability!)

FINANCIAL ADVANTAGES:
✅ Property value increases (ROI: 70-90% = great return!)
✅ Better energy performance (improved EPC rating, energy bill -30%!)
✅ Monthly repayment stays the same (same mortgage, NOT higher!)
✅ ENTIRELY your home (you decide everything!)

Disadvantages of renovating

PRACTICAL DISADVANTAGES:
❌ High upfront investment (€50k+ needed!)
❌ Long building period (3-6 months of noise, mess and chaos!)
❌ Uncertainties (surprises!