Downstairs toilet refurb - worth getting a shower in too?

redrabbit29

I live in a 2 bedroom split-floor maisonette. On the lower floor there is a living room, kitchen + a toilet/sink. There is also a small utility cupboard.

Next door were telling me that they altered the size of the cupboard (I believe it's less deep), so they had more room in the toilet and then they installed a shower.

See picture below ... red bit is the cupboard



The next year or so I may look to get the MAIN bathroom completely re-done but the downstairs toilet also needs sorted.

My instinct is, that it's NOT worth altering the size of the cupboard just for a shower, and that I should just simply get simple refurb on the spare toilet as it will not increase the house value at all.

I also don't plan on staying in this house for more than 3-4 years. I need to do some changes as the bathroom is pretty poor looking and I believe it's best to get a new one fitted.

Any experience with this, or thoughts?

bouicca21

What sort of person would buy your place? I'd suspect either a singleton wanting space or a couple starting out. The singleton does not need the extra shower. The couple starting out would maybe have or be planning to have a child. Are they going to be queuing up in the morning to get into the bathroom? Reasonably unlikely.

So what benefit would you and any future buyer get from installing a shower? I suspect not a lot. In which case I'd rather have a cupboard. There is never enough storage ...

busymumof3

Hi redrabbit29. I recently posted a thread asking for advice on my proposed new bathroom layout and got a great response so hopefully you will get similar good advice.

Is it possible for you to add dimensions to your floor plan? Without these it's difficult to see whether a shower cubicle can be comfortably fitted in. Do you know from your neighbours where they have positioned the shower and if the WC and basin have had to move? It could add to the cost if the loo position has had to change.

Is this your only cupboard and how much of it could still be retained? Thinking that the vacuum, ironing board etc still need a home.

I wondered if you lived in an area with good rental values and if the maisonette was suitable for sharers? If it is then the inclusion of a second shower room would be a huge bonus.

Doozergirl

bouicca21 wrote: »

What sort of person would buy your place? I'd suspect either a singleton wanting space or a couple starting out. The singleton does not need the extra shower. The couple starting out would maybe have or be planning to have a child. Are they going to be queuing up in the morning to get into the bathroom? Reasonably unlikely.

So what benefit would you and any future buyer get from installing a shower? I suspect not a lot. In which case I'd rather have a cupboard. There is never enough storage ...

I agree with all of this. You have no need for it, the likely demographic of your future buyer is unlikely to be bothered either. Expense for the sake of it and it won't add value at all.

redrabbit29

bouicca21 wrote: »

What sort of person would buy your place? I'd suspect either a singleton wanting space or a couple starting out. The singleton does not need the extra shower. The couple starting out would maybe have or be planning to have a child. Are they going to be queuing up in the morning to get into the bathroom? Reasonably unlikely.

So what benefit would you and any future buyer get from installing a shower? I suspect not a lot. In which case I'd rather have a cupboard. There is never enough storage ...

That's a good point. My neighbour has two young children but it must be a bit of a squeeze with just the two bedrooms. Some of my neighbours rent, some have purchased and I believe most are either a couple, or single, or with one child.

I think you're right that a shower wouldn't really be that useful.

busymumof3 wrote: »

Hi redrabbit29. I recently posted a thread asking for advice on my proposed new bathroom layout and got a great response so hopefully you will get similar good advice.

Is it possible for you to add dimensions to your floor plan? Without these it's difficult to see whether a shower cubicle can be comfortably fitted in. Do you know from your neighbours where they have positioned the shower and if the WC and basin have had to move? It could add to the cost if the loo position has had to change.

Is this your only cupboard and how much of it could still be retained? Thinking that the vacuum, ironing board etc still need a home.

I wondered if you lived in an area with good rental values and if the maisonette was suitable for sharers? If it is then the inclusion of a second shower room would be a huge bonus.

Well I live in the South East, and my place only cost £133k and that was 2.5 years ago. It's very low value compared to the market and I don't think there's much you can do to increase value as they are non-extendable.

Some are rented homes but I don't know how much for. I wouldn't plan to rent my house though.

I haven't got the dimensions with me, and I don't know exactly how my neighbours layed their bathroom out.

I want to only stay here for another 3-4 years so doing some work to make it easier to sell. The main bathroom is pretty bad, it just looks old and worn out. Even "sprucing" it up wouldn't help and so I think a brand new one is needed.

The kitchen, I'm going to budget around £2-3k for a refurb - new worktop, floor, sink, etc...

The estate agent says with a decent looking house it could sell for £155-160k as opposed to £145k-150k plus of course it would sell quicker.

I'm not wanting to plough loads of money in, but I think it needs some updating, even to make living here a bit nicer.