Does removing a fireplace reduce house value?

spaceraiders

rachbc wrote: »

yes a fireplace will add value in lots of properties, but it sounds like space is a premium in yours and anything that makes it look or feel bigger and gives more usable space can only be good right?

On another note - unless this is specifically an investment property that you don't plan to live in, treat your house like a home, live in it how suits you best rather than worrying about what its worth. If you like to have a fire, have a fire, if you prefer to have somewhere to eat, have somewhere to eat.

You're right, but it's always a compromise. If something adds a lot of value and I only dislike it a little, I'd probably go with the former.

macman

spaceraiders wrote: »

There's a vent on the wall where the old chimney used to be. I'd have to look into getting it opened up again.

If I got a fireplace though, it would be for a gas fire and not a wood burning one I reckon. Wood burning isn't very economical.

So is the stack still there?

spaceraiders

macman wrote: »

So is the stack still there?

It's just a flat wall with a vent on it (which I assume means a chimney is behind the vent).

slipthru

I would remove the fireplace. The house we are buying has something similar to yours and the fireplace will be the first thing we remove.

I'd rather have the space and room set up properly, than something i will never use.

spaceraiders

slipthru wrote: »

I would remove the fireplace. The house we are buying has something similar to yours and the fireplace will be the first thing we remove.

I'd rather have the space and room set up properly, than something i will never use.

Thanks for the advice. Fireplaces look nice but they really limit where you can put your furniture. For example, the only place we can really put a sofa is opposite the fireplace. Then the TV must go opposite somewhere etc. This is a real problem when you don't have a dining room to put a table.

Doozergirl

To put it quite simply, a dining area or any kind of utilisable space is going to add more value than a fireplace; for that reason, it will be fine to get rid of it.

A fireplace will create a focal point but it isn't a surefire way to add value. A square room with a chimney breast but no fire may feel a little soul-less if there is nothing else to look at but sounds like your room is going to be quite busy anyway. Let your sofas point at something other than just the TV and you'll be fine - the house won't be worth any different either way, in fact if it genuinely is the difference between a dining area and none, then you may add a bit more value by losing the fireplace.