'Bog' standard 60's renovation - downstairs toilet?

[Suomynona]

We’re about to start renovating a 60’s 3 bed semi, it’s pretty standard – downstairs entrance porch, living room diner with stairs off, and small kitchen which we’re going to change in to living room, with kitchen diner, French doors on to garden, and upstairs it has 3 bedrooms and a bathroom.

We’re toying with the idea of a small downstairs extension accessed from the entrance porch to accommodate a toilet, the washing machine (to free up room in kitchen) and possibly a shower.

How much difference (if any) would a downstairs toilet/shower/washing machine room 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 would think that would make a significant difference, provided it is nicely done with adequate space. I wouldn't really know about numbers though - I would ask a local EA.

I think that current building regs insist on a downstairs toilet if you extend a house without one.

It would certainly make it more saleable. I would never have considered buying a house without a second toilet, even pre-children.

Huge difference. A second loo and/or shower in a family house is a big pull and space for a washing machine means more room in the kitchen. Provided it's done well I cant see any downsides at all.

We're currently house hunting and one of my 'hard' criteria is that there's a downstairs loo, or room to put one in. So if you'd done an extension without one, I would probably discount it on that basis.

With young children or elderly relatives, the advantage of not having to go upstairs to get to a loo cannot be underestimated!

I wouldn't be so bothered about a shower downstairs but would definitely want a second toilet downstairs. We have one now and it is used multiple times a day with a 6 and 4 yo.

Definitely a plus, we've just got PP for an extension porch in an old cottage, to accommodate a downstairs WC.

Have you got a floor plan? I'm wondering if you are going to do an extension, would it be worth spending a bit more and doing a kitchen or living room extension, then having the old small kitchen as a utility with wc.

Thanks All.

mrmonk, here's the plan. We are also considering a single storey extension to the left side to make a toilet/utility/storage room, and a bigger kitchen-diner, but it's the difefrence between spending circa 5k and 25k, which would really stretch our renovation budget, and we may not recoup the cost due to ceiling price of the area.....

A downstairs WC and a 'utility cupboard' with stacked WM and TD and room to store hoover and ironing board would be a bit plus.

2nd shower total waste of time as you only have 3 beds anyway.

One of our criteria was at least 2 bath/shower rooms and toilets. We have a bathroom, a shower room and a downstairs toilet, total of 3 toilets. We use them all equally.

I miss having a utility room so that would be good.

If you are running plumbing for one thing you may as well do them all.

Yes to a downstairs loo and utility room.