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Property/DIY

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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:

Ladyface · 22/09/2013 16:06

Oops - missed the bit where the door opens onto the street! Can you move the radiator/have a smaller radiator?

LilMissSunshine9 · 22/09/2013 16:06

Downstairs loo is a major plus for me - sometimes when I having coming back from being out and I suddenly need to go, makes such a difference not having to run up stairs. Also great when you get unexpected guests and sometimes my rooms upstairs are a bit untidy, at least they don't have to go upstairs to use the loo.

Jan49 · 22/09/2013 17:12

Definitely keep the downstairs loo. I've twice bought a house and both times the fact that it had a second toilet downstairs was a factor in choosing that house. Maybe try to sort out whatever causes the smell.

SwedishEdith · 22/09/2013 17:26

Can you put in an a vertical radiator instead so more room for storage?

Methe · 22/09/2013 17:36

We have a very small downstairs loo and with a bit of ingenuity have all the shoes, coats and crap in there too! For a few years we didn't use it as it had the pushchair in but oh my goodness it was nice to reclaim it once all that was in the past.

I wouldn't buy a house without at least 2 toilets now that the children are older..everyone seems to need a poo when I'm in the shower!

Teapot74 · 24/09/2013 21:24

If the plumbing is there it would cost buttons to put back in, which could be pointed out to buyers in the future, so would do what you want.

onlysettleforbutterflies · 24/09/2013 21:35

It would be a plus point for me to have one if I was looking at two similar houses. However, you do need to make your home work for you now, so if that's what you really want to do, do it, but make sure its left easy to reinstall.

MirandaWest · 24/09/2013 21:40

I'd like the downstairs toilet to be an under the stairs cupboard. As I rent this house, it's unlikely to happen. Think I am unusual in my thinking though.

NoComet · 24/09/2013 22:55

Loo!
Otherwise muddy, drippy, mucky DDs have to stomp through the kitchen and across the living room carpet to get up stairs.

And given swimming and water fighting in summer and trampolining in the rain in winter, they are drippy!

MummytoMog · 24/09/2013 23:26

I wish I had a downstairs loo. So bad. When my poor old Dad visited he couldn't get up the stairs, and he had to use a commode in the living room, while we all went out and made a lot of noise in the kitchen. It was hideous. He's gone now, but I'm still building a downstairs loo.

maddybassett · 24/09/2013 23:40

Loo with coat hooks ?

NoComet · 24/09/2013 23:54

Oops I forgot that DM can't get her arthritic knees up our stairs. Sadly it hurts for her to get in and out the car too! So I tend to go there.

valiumredhead · 24/09/2013 23:58

Our next house should we move will need a downstairs loo.

JeanPaget · 25/09/2013 00:03

It would put me off a house if it didn't have a downstairs loo I'm afraid .

vj32 · 25/09/2013 08:32

I would appreciate the downstairs loo as we have a toddler but - three toilets in a three bed house. To be honest I wouldn't appreciate the cleaning. I don't understand the modern idea of putting an ensuite in every property, just makes the bedrooms smaller.

I would personally keep the downstairs loo and take out the ensuite. But I accept I am not the average buyer!

TheNoodlesIncident · 25/09/2013 12:56

I would keep it too OP. The non-flushing issue will get sorted out over time and won't be a problem any more. Far less hassle than taking a toilet out.

IdaClair I stored our pushchair in a corner of the dining room, it folded to similar size as an upright vacuum cleaner and fitted in our car boot, the luggage space on buses - I would make that one of the criteria you have in mind when you're shopping for one.

It's no hardship to run up stairs Umm, until you contract some nasty virus and everyone is stricken with D & V. THEN you appreciate a toilet downstairs, oh yes...

This thread is actually really comforting as we went to a lot of bother to put a toilet in our understairs area; we're selling our house very soon and naturally feel a bit twittery that nobody will want it. Every box ticked makes me less nervous

NotCitrus · 25/09/2013 13:53

Wall storage or under-sink storage for shoes? Coat hooks above the cistern?

I'd keep the downstairs loo if at all possible - I'm another one it's a dealbreaker for. Even when I'm able to get up and down stairs quickly, it's invaluable for small children needing the potty/loo fast, and for when MIL comes to visit and can't get up stairs.

I might ditch the ensuite if space was at a premium, but otherwise with 3 kids it's an enjoyable luxury!

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