Only one bathroom - and it's downstairs with no bath!

sjlou

We have a downstairs bathroom, but a lot of properties in the area do. Is yours similar to many properties in the area? or is it unique to the neighbourhood?

We have been told that a few houses in our area who have converted a bedroom into a bathroom are struggling to sell, as the 3rd bedroom is more valuable to buyers that are struggling to afford a property for a growing family.

IMO I would keep the house to your requirements as you're not planning on selling right now, then when it comes to the time talk it through with your agent who will be able to tell you what is most important to the buyers you will target.

phoebe1989seb

Whilst personally i wouldn't buy a house without the potential to add an upstairs bathroom, a) I guess it wouldn't put everyone off and b) as someone who added a third (upstairs) bathroom in their last house (previously 2 beds, no bathroom upstairs and 3/4 beds, 1 bathroom, 1 shower room downstairs) and ultimately lost a lot of money when we sold, I wouldn't necessarily advise doing it yourself.....it certainly didn't add any value! If a potential buyer likes the house enough to buy and sees the possibilities are there they will buy it and have the work done themselves

shegirl

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

We can fit in a full size bath. We actually took the bath out because we preferred a shower, but one could be put back in if it was a deal breaker.

It would still be downstairs though....

You could put a child bath inside the shower cubicle, fill it from the shower and bath the children in that. Would that be a problem to people?

A child bath?Ok,you could do tha twith a baby bath but as far as I'm aware you can't get 'child baths'???

Either way,shower rooms/wet rooms completey put me off and I wouldn't go for a house with one.

dizziblonde

I've lived in a house with a downstairs bathroom - wouldn't like to do it again as the only bathroom in a house. The moonlight streak when you need a pee in the middle of the night is much more annoying when, by the time you've got back up the stairs, you're now wide awake for the next few hours - yes I'm speaking from many bitter nights of experience here.

Wouldn't want to be faffing on sticking a baby bath inside the shower cubicle either to be honest. Lack of a bath is probably a big thing (even though we're a showery house we still like having the option), the downstairs bathroom I guess depends more on the local norm.

red_devil

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Thanks red devil, that is interesting. Do they have any toilet facilities upstairs?

no they dont.

ilovecheese

We currently live in a cottage that has a very odd layout!

Upstairs we have 1 double bedroom with an ensuite (bath no shower, sink and toilet)

Downstairs we have 1 very small single bedroom and a seperate shower room with sink and toilet.

I never use the upstairs bathroom because it has carpet on the floor, the shower room downstairs has lino, so even though I have a bathroom upstairs I always use the one downstairs!!! Also we have a cesspool for our used water, so I never have a bath! I might replace the carpet at some point, but as it is a rented property I am not too keen on spending my own money!

A downstairs bathroom would not bother me at all!

xylophone

Look for a really good local plumber/builder and get his advice on dividing one of the double bedrooms? I would do this rather than going for an en-suite. It doesn't have to be exactly half and half. Get some squared paper and work up some ideas. Obtain catalogues of sanitary ware for small bathrooms.

Try for natural light if you can. Remember that good ventilation is an absolute must.
In your place I'd do it now, and get the benefit before the time came to sell.
http://www.mbd-bathrooms.co.uk/Information/Small_Bathrooms.php

seven-day-weekend

Thanks everybody folr your input, some excellent ideas there.

The jury is still out on whether we want to make three bedrooms into two-and-a-half, especially as there would be a single and a double on one floor and the other double upstairs in the loft.

However, nearer the time, we will most definitely look at this option. I think we personally would rather have the double rooms.

Thanks again.

tbs624

Downstairs bathroom not an issue for me if rest of property met needs.

Prefer the option of a bath or a shower but a shower only would not necessarily put me off a property so long as there was room to put a bath in.

seven-day-weekend

tbs624 wrote: »

Downstairs bathroom not an issue for me if rest of property met needs.

Prefer the option of a bath or a shower but a shower only would not necessarily put me off a property so long as there was room to put a bath in.

Thankyou, that is how we feel too, and round here it is expected that this sort of house might well have a downstairs bathroom.

I'm glad there are at least a few people who would not be bothered by the downstairs location. It has never been a problem to us in 38 years of owning the house!