Importance of downstairs toilet?

WobblyDog

Bettycheese wrote: »

How much difference (if any) do you think a downstairs toilet/shower/washing machine room would make to the attractiveness of the house when we come to resell, and would people be willing to pay more for this over a similar house that only has the one bathroom upstairs? Our likely market will be couples or young families. In the area of the SE where we live, resale price will probably be in region of £330k. Thanks.

I think a downstairs toilet would be a useful and marketable addition in a house which currently has only a single upstairs bathroom.

I wouldn't be attracted much by a separate room for a washing machine. For me, a downstairs shower would only be really attractive if it was suitable for use by people with impaired mobility (such as elderly or unwell people), who might have difficulties getting upstairs.

Red-Squirrel_2

robatwork wrote: »

It's where they are kept on the continent, and makes absolute sense. Do you take your clothes off in the kitchen or bathroom?

Fair point, but I never take them off in the downstairs loo!

Snuggles

Having experienced the horrors of both myself and OH being struck down at the same time by food poisoning, I would never ever consider buying a house that only had one toilet!

daivid

House I bought last year has a downstairs shower and wc. Having a downstairs (second) toilet was a must, the shower just a happy bonus.

Petethespider

Downstairs toilet for me is a must

Utility room not so much. Depends on the size and the usfulness of it. Big enough to use an ironing board, have a clothes horse as well as space for outside shoes and boots and coats as well as the washing machine, a sink, tumble drier, store cupboard etc then yes. Something the size that you can't swing a cat in, no thanks. Indeed I knocked ours down to extend the kitchen diner space

robatwork

Red-Squirrel wrote: »

Fair point, but I never take them off in the downstairs loo!

And that, sir, is why you're becoming a rare species!

trailingspouse

Our house has an attic shower room, a main bathroom on the first floor, a utility room in the basement (and space for a loo down there too, still deciding whether to go down that route) - BUT nowhere to put a loo on the ground floor. And I do wonder if it might cause us problems further down the line when we come to sell.

Personally, it doesn't bother me - walking upstairs to the loo is good exercise - but it might make a difference to other people.

I like a separate utility room - we're lucky enough to have space for a sink, under-sink cupboard, washer and tumble dryer, and I also iron down there - I like being able to close the door on in all!! I also don't like the idea of keeping/feeding animals in a kitchen - so a utility would have that advantage too.

phoebe1989seb

I wouldn't buy a house without a downstairs loo unless there was space to add one. IIRC every house we've owned - six in total - has had a loo and/or a utility room on the ground floor. Not only is it more practical for family use, but with regard to the utility room aspect I'd much rather have my laundry facilities in a separate room where I can shut the door and not have to look at piles of ironing, lol!

Last two houses - but not the current one - we've fitted shower rooms on the ground floor in addition to bathroom(s) upstairs - not for our personal use, but for our dogs

When selling, the separate utility and shower rooms have been a real plus point for family buyers (these were four/five bed houses) and both times I believe helped our houses sell quickly.

Current house had a downstairs loo and small kitchen (approx 11' x 11') when we bought it. As we'd just sold a house with a much larger kitchen and this place had three reception rooms, it made perfect sense to convert one of those into a larger kitchen, retaining the existing kitchen as a decent sized utility with washing machine, dishwasher, free-standing larder cupboard, sink and place to feed the dogs/store unsightly stuff It also has access to the cellar where there's an overflow freezer etc......

babyblooz

We managed to fit in a small downstairs loo and hand basin in the cupboard under our stairs. It is only small but perfectly adequate and is indispensable when the grandkids come, when elderly visitors are over and when anyone here has tummy troubles and needs the loo quickly.

It is without a doubt the very best thing we have ever done in this house, so so convenient and I would never buy a house that didn't have one now.