A Downstairs Third Bedroom

starsky27

Hi ,
I'm after some opinions on a property that I'm interested in.
The property in question has a third bedroom downstairs which looks like it was previously a garage. This in itself is not to much of an issue as we only have one chid with no view to extending the family so this room wouldn't actually be used as a bedroom. My question is to do with price. In your opinion is a property with a downstairs third bedroom worth as much as a similar property with an upstairs third bedroom ?. It's currently marketed as a 2-3 bedroom but with a three bedroom price tag for that particular road.

Thanks,
Mark

Own_My_Own

starsky27 wrote: »

Hi ,
I'm after some opinions on a property that I'm interested in.
The property in question has a third bedroom downstairs which looks like it was previously a garage. This in itself is not to much of an issue as we only have one chid with no view to extending the family so this room wouldn't actually be used as a bedroom. My question is to do with price. In your opinion is a property with a downstairs third bedroom worth as much as a similar property with an upstairs third bedroom ?. It's currently marketed as a 2-3 bedroom but with a three bedroom price tag for that particular road.

Thanks,
Mark

In my option No. Although you say you do not need it as a 3rd bedroom, the people after you may.

starsky27

Hi Own My Own( like the username:)),

Thanks for the reply.

Even though we plan to stay in our next property for a long time I wouldn't want to stitch ourselves up when it comes to reselling. I think the key is to get the property at a decent price which would be somewhere I suppose between the cost of a two bed and three bed. We could always extend on the garage to make a third bedroom upstairs to make it more of a conventional layout.
We have just accepted a asking price offer on our flat so we are now under pressure to find a place soon. Not an easy feat with the lack of properties on the market in our area. Can't complain though:)

Own_My_Own

Put a checky offer in. What can you lose. If they say no, up it until you feel it is high enough.

starsky27

Sounds like a plan !

Guest101

There is a very niche 'market' for this. Peoplw with disabilities require a bedroom on the ground floor. Normally this would mean taking away a living/dinign room. You don't need to do that.

starsky27

Thanks for the reply Guest101,
That's a very niche market indeed but good point.

Thanks,
Mark

phoebe1989seb

Our last house had a pretty unusual layout in that whilst it only had two bedrooms (and bathroom) upstairs, downstairs there were five *reception* rooms plus a kitchen, a conservatory and two bath/shower rooms.

The house was of Tudor origin but had been extended in the 1930s when it was actually moved to a completely new location. Later, during the 1980s an integral garage had been converted into living accommodation (the fifth reception room), forming an annexe along with a shower room and downstairs bedroom for an elderly relative.

When we bought it in 2007 we had no need for an annexe or for any more than two bedrooms so we utilised the extra downstairs rooms as additional living space.

OTOH when we sold in 2011 our buyers had three kids plus parents that had sold up in the UK to live in mainland Europe but who intended to visit frequently so for them as buyers, our house made perfect sense - the two older kids would have bedrooms downstairs (giving them a sense of their own space), along with the former garage (with its own entrance) for visiting grandparents, whilst the baby had the second upstairs bedroom.

We found it no more difficult to sell than a bog-standard house, but that might have been down to the character it exuded as much as anything else as we accepted an offer within two weeks and price-wise I don't believe there was much difference between the price achieved and what a conventional layout would have commanded.......

It's horses for courses I s'pose

kittykatkat

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

Our last house had a pretty unusual layout in that whilst it only had two bedrooms (and bathroom) upstairs, downstairs there were five *reception* rooms plus a kitchen, a conservatory and two bath/shower rooms.

The house was of Tudor origin but had been extended in the 1930s when it was actually moved to a completely new location. Later, during the 1980s an integral garage had been converted into living accommodation (the fifth reception room), forming an annexe along with a shower room and downstairs bedroom for an elderly relative.

When we bought it in 2007 we had no need for an annexe or for any more than two bedrooms so we utilised the extra downstairs rooms as additional living space.

OTOH when we sold in 2011 our buyers had three kids plus parents that had sold up in the UK to live in mainland Europe but who intended to visit frequently so for them as buyers, our house made perfect sense - the two older kids would have bedrooms downstairs (giving them a sense of their own space), along with the former garage (with its own entrance) for visiting grandparents, whilst the baby had the second upstairs bedroom.

We found it no more difficult to sell than a bog-standard house, but that might have been down to the character it exuded as much as anything else as we accepted an offer within two weeks and price-wise I don't believe there was much difference between the price achieved and what a conventional layout would have commanded.......

It's horses for courses I s'pose

Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony? :rotfl:

BobQ

I think the answer depends on how well the conversion has been done and whether it complies with building regulations.

If its done properly then I cannot see its a big issue, its a bedroom like any other with the advantage of being more accessible.

If it is a bit of a lash up without complying with the requirements for electrics, ventilation, damp proofing etc then its a liability and certainly not worth paying a 3 bed price.

Another advantage is that it offers more flexibility, you may decide to use it as extra living space but have the option of it being a bedroom?

phoebe1989seb

kittykatkat wrote: »

Mercedes, sauna and room for a pony? :rotfl:

In that part of Essex??? Not quite.......Mercedes - only if you're the local drug dealer. Sauna - most of the retired Eastenders living locally would have aspired to this height of luxury, LOL! Pony - the locals would have most likely eaten it whole in a bun :rotfl: