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Original poster

Would this put future buyers off?

67 replies

CbeebiesIsMyLife · 22/09/2013 11:32

We live in a nice 3 bed home with a very small garden, it's not our forever home and plan on moving in 5ish years time.

The house has 3 bedrooms master en suite with a family bathroom. We also have a downstairs toilet. Our hallway is very small with a radiator on the only wall we could put shoe storage in. I'm pregnant with child number 3 and am going to have the pushchair out on a more regular basis again.

The downstairs toilet in right next to the front door. It stinks and I hate it (toddler dd uses toilet and doesn't pull flush/ tell me until I find it) how much would I devalue the house by if I took out he toilet an sink and turned it into a room of shoes, coats and the pushchair?

Honest opinions welcome, we have a few other options and don't want to shoot ourselves in the foot by taking loads and loads off the value.

OP posts:
Original poster
CbeebiesIsMyLife · 22/09/2013 12:41

Knock it is a short term problem I agree, but dd2 will be at that stage in around 10 months then with baby number 3 on the way and potty trained before we move it feels more of a long term problem iyswim.

It's also laid out funny so no room to share it, although it is a big toilet. We also need to re organise the office space (converte garage) so will look at being able to put the pushchair in there.

Sorry when I said 3 steps I didn't mean there were step I meant there were 3 feet between the front door and the pavement. Sorry I wasn't thinking!

OP posts:
specialsubject · 22/09/2013 12:45

leave the loo where it is. Your child will learn to flush, as will the next one.

loos shouldn't need daily thorough cleaning, and shouldn't smell. Get a plumber in.

nemno · 22/09/2013 12:48

Don't houses built after a certain date need to have a downstairs loo to meet building regs (or just to get planning?)? What happens if the loo gets removed later? Would it come up in Searches when the house sells? Anyone know?

But I'd definitely want the loo if I were buying.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 22/09/2013 12:49

I think I would keep it as a toilet, but not one that was used, if you see what I mean. Give it a really good clean so you are happy that it is fresh and fragrant, then use it to store the buggy (and the hoover or whatever else) in - and put a hook high up on the door outside, so your dd can't get in to use the loo.

Re. your dd not flushing etc, I suspect you have to have a week or so where you do nothing but follow her to the loo and nag her about flushing/wiping up spills/washing her hands etc, until she gets the message. Or you could try a reward chart - tell her you will be checking the loo every three hours, and if it is clean and flushed, she will get a sticker. Otherwise, you are just going to transfer the smelly problem upstairs.

If you are going to decommission the downstairs loo, whether temporarily or permanently, I would tackle the not flushing etc problem first, because it would be much more work for you to tackle it if it is upstairs, I think.

MortifiedAdams · 22/09/2013 12:55

Vom at having a downstairs loo right next to the dorr and everyone having to walk oast it coming in and out tge house. Make it a shoe\boot area and keep the loo away from the visiting public.

ILikeBirds · 22/09/2013 12:59

It's technically against building regs (part m) to remove a downstairs toilet where one exists already although I'm not sure a search would ever pick up on it.

onedev · 22/09/2013 13:02

Why is it against building regs? What's the logic behind that?

lalalonglegs · 22/09/2013 13:04

Don't lots of people have a downstairs loo off their hall, Morticia? I think that's really normal - a downstairs loo is kind of intended for visitors Confused.

CreatureRetorts · 22/09/2013 13:06

Does she drink enough? I must be pretty pungent wee Grin

ILikeBirds · 22/09/2013 13:07

Part M is about accessibility, and requires that all houses built after a certain date have downstairs toilets. Removing this would contravene the regulations.

kitsmummy · 22/09/2013 13:46

If you get rid of this toilet, then surely she will then not flush the upstairs toilet, meaning your landing smells Confused? Keep the toilet and train the child!

Primrose123 · 22/09/2013 13:54

Where are your stairs? In the hall or living room? Could you box them in to create storage? I was thinking you could put coats, shoes and pram under the stairs. If there's not enough room for that could you put in a small loo under the stairs and remove the current loo and use that as storage?

Viviennemary · 22/09/2013 13:59

A lot of people don't even consider a house without a downstairs loo. So it's really a question of leave it as it is because you will be selling in five years or change it to suit yourself. But a coats cupboard is very useful. I wish I hadn't got rid of ours.

mamij · 22/09/2013 14:06

Keep the toilet! It wasn't essential when we viewed properties but definitely swayed us if there was one. And now can't do without it - can't imagine leaving DD2 downstairs and supervising DD1 when they were both younger. And prefer visitors to use the one downstairs.

Can you get some reed diffusers when you sell? At least it will make it a bit more fragrant. Also some toilet block to put in the cistern?

Could you put up a shelf in the hall, with some nice wicker baskets for storage and coat hooks underneath?

ChippingInNeedsSleepAndCoffee · 22/09/2013 14:07

I think you will find it a life saver when DD2 is potty training and DC 3 is a baby - so on that basis alone I'd be reluctant to remove it. But I would look at doing what SDTG said - give it a damn good clean and put it 'out of use' put up coat rail, shoe rack & buggy in there.

MarjorieAntrobus · 22/09/2013 14:11

Keep the toilet for selling the house. Put it out of use in the meanwhile as SDTG and Chipping said.

BackforGood · 22/09/2013 14:12

I think you'd be mad to take out a downstairs toilet that is already there.
A downstairs toilet is SUCH an asset.
If you don't want the children to use it (although I'm completely Confused as to why you too wouldn't think a downstairs toilet is a real plus point when you have toilet training children), then you can use it for shoes / coats / storage only, but still have it there as a plus point when you come to sell.

BackforGood · 22/09/2013 14:13

oh - x-posted with everyone else.

Dontletthemgetyoudown · 22/09/2013 14:13

Downstairs loo wouldn't be an issue for me as we are past toilet training ages. A hallway cupboard for coats and shoes is a plus for me as I hate cramped hallway with coats and shoes in display.

My current home has a huge cupboard in the hallway for storing coats shoes bags pe kits etc and that was a definate plus point for me when viewing houses.

Dontletthemgetyoudown · 22/09/2013 14:14

Does your hallway need a radiator? I find ours is warm enough without it turned on even when its snowing outside. So id consider getting rid of the radiator and building a cupboard to fit shoes coats etc.

80sMum · 22/09/2013 14:20

Keep the loo!!
Your DD will grow up and will soon learn how to use it properly.
Could you replace the radiator with a vertical one? Theny might have a bit more space. Modern radiators can be very slim and fit close to the wall. Many only protrude about 5 cm from the wall.

HaveToWearHeels · 22/09/2013 15:48

Keep the loo I wouldn't buy a house without one. I have visitors trailing through my house.
Mortified where else would a downstairs loo be apart from off the hallway ?

BikeRunSki · 22/09/2013 15:51

I' d prefer a downstairs loo, especially with dc. Yiur house sounds very similar to ours.

BikeRunSki · 22/09/2013 15:53

Although our downstairs loo is at the back, in the little passage between the main part of the house and the (integral) garage.

Ladyface · 22/09/2013 16:01

Can you put a porch on the front of the house?