Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

Original poster

Would I be mad to turn my 5 bed into a 4 bed?

21 replies

ChancellorBercow · 15/12/2017 09:49

Just starting to think about doing this. No budget yet, it's just an idea.

Current configuration is 4 double bedrooms (2 have ensuite shower rooms), 1 single bedroom plus family bathroom.

I'm thinking of reconfiguring the family bathroom to make bedroom 3 larger with an ensuite shower room and converting bedroom 5 into a family bathroom.

So, proposed configuration is 4 double bedrooms (3 with ensuite shower rooms) plus large family bathroom. So, all bedrooms would have their own bath/shower facilities.

I have three DC's aged 12-16 and plan to stay in this house until at least a couple of them have moved out so probably 7-8 years minimum.

The proposed set up would suit us much better as a family and give everyone their own space. But I just need to get my head round losing a bedroom.

Nobody has slept in the spare bedroom in over a year and we don't really need it as we have two sofa beds downstairs in separate rooms so can accommodate visitors if need be.

Also, thinking of resale, not too many families actually need 5 bedrooms and I think 4 good sized bedrooms suits a family with 3 children better (and is harder to find).

Downside is that it's another loo to clean!

OP posts:

Knittedbreasts · 15/12/2017 09:52

I wouldn't personally but I have 4 children!

Believeitornot · 15/12/2017 09:54

Yes I think 5 bedrooms isn’t much different to 4 for the majority of people looking.

So what is right for your family. It’s a home not an investment (right now).

Wishfulmakeupping · 15/12/2017 09:55

Price wise you will be shaving money off when the time comes to sell I'd speak to a local agent they'd give you an idea about how much.

Balearica · 15/12/2017 09:57

I think it sounds like a good idea. It may be harder than you think if bedroom 5 is not on the same side of the house as a current bathroom because of the soil pipes. Probably worth asking a builder for his thoughts.

specialsubject · 15/12/2017 10:48

How many bathrooms do you want to be cleaning?? But if it suits, do it.

un1c0rn · 15/12/2017 11:03

I wouldn't. Not everyone needs their own individual bathrooms!! We have four bedrooms including one ensuite, family bathroom and downstairs WC. Three loos is plenty!!

Buscake · 15/12/2017 11:07

We’re a family of five and just moved into a 5 bed house. We were looking for a 4bed but saw this one and increased our mortgage so we could buy it! The extra room has a bed and a desk in it. It means my husband can work from home even when the little ones aren’t at preschool, the older one has somewhere quiet to do homework, somewhere to store all our paperwork etc as well as somewhere for people to sleep. I value it so much!

Original poster

ChancellorBercow · 15/12/2017 11:12

Yes Balearica it's next to the existing family bathroom which is what makes it feasible.

I'm currently working on getting rid of the assumption that bathroom cleaning is my job specialsubject.

Believeitornot agree re being a home, I extended to 5 beds when I had young step children. They're grown up now and I'm divorced so they stay at their dad's when they visit.

Of the houses like ours in the street some have extended to make 5 beds and some to make larger 4 beds. I don't think the values are that different, similar square metres but will depend on a buyer's preferences which they would buy.

OP posts:

Original poster

ChancellorBercow · 15/12/2017 11:19

That's how we were Buscake - it really suited us when there were 5 of us plus step kids, the kids were small and my then H worked from home. Now not so much - spare room is mainly unused. We have downstairs space for homework, Xbox etc.

I think the decision will be down to cost.

OP posts:

HTKB · 15/12/2017 11:22

Who will be using the large family bathroom though? Could you just shave off enough for a loo and sink or a very small shower room? and keep a small fifth room as a study, perhaps with a daybed for guests?

RestingGrinchFace · 15/12/2017 11:26

That aly if bathrooms. If I were buying I would rather have an extra bedroom that could be used as an office/storage/craft room etc.

steppemum · 15/12/2017 11:31

I simply don't understand the proposal.

4 bedrooms, 3 ensuite plus one bathroom.
So every room has its own bathroom, just that one isn't ensuite?
I cannot see why every room needs its own bathroom, especially as at the moment only 2 people share the family bathroom.

My parents did it 5 beds to 4, but they did it because there was only one bathroom, and so created an ensuite to the main bedroom, and a wlk in cupboard, which makes the main bedroom much more spacious.

personally I would move the spare bed out if you don't use it, and think about other uses of the room. I would (for example) set it up as my craft/sewing room. Or as my office (I work from home and use the dining room table) or make a music room for dds to practice in a remove all the music stuff from downstairs. Or put the x-box in there and make a teen den, or put up shelves and use it as a greenhouse to start off all my spring seeds, or start fostering and use that bedroom.

Can't get excited about another bathroom when you already have plenty

JoJoSM2 · 15/12/2017 11:41

It's really all about what works best for your family. Our house started off as 6 bedrooms and it's now down to 4 as the reconfiguration works better for us. And whilst homes in the UK are priced more on the number of bedrooms than sq footage, I doubt it would make that much price difference in your case.

However, I do wonder if you need 1 bathroom per child? Rooms can have a lot of other functions like hobby rooms, walk-in wardrobes or studies.

PrimalLass · 15/12/2017 11:56

I would do it because it would work better for you. Worry about the resale later.

Firenight · 15/12/2017 12:03

I would want that extra bedroom as a study, unless you have one already elsewhere?

Baxdream · 15/12/2017 12:54

We're just extending our house to a 4 bed. Our new bedroom is huge with an ensuite and dressing room. It would easily have fitted two double bedrooms but we have done it for us rather than resale.
I would change it to suit you especially if you haven't used the spare room for so long

FluffyWuffy100 · 15/12/2017 12:57

I’d rather have a study than for every child to have their own bathroom, but if it works for you do it.

BackforGood · 15/12/2017 13:03

I wouldn't. Most people who don't need the 5th bedroom would love to have a study or a hobby room or even a laundry room!
If the bedrooms are already doubles, I can't see why they need to be bigger and you already seem to have more than enough bathrooms.
Even if it were nil cost and nil hassle I'd prefer the layout you've got, but I certainly wouldn't have work done to make it less attractive to future buyers.

frenchfancy · 15/12/2017 13:07

It would be better for you then do it. Families may not need so many bathrooms but as kids get older but don't move out then I think they could be very useful indeed.

If you are worried about re-sale then think about the fact you are opening up the property to be bought by a group of friends rather than a family, it is becoming more common and 4 similar sized bedrooms could make the property desirable.

another20 · 17/12/2017 22:00

Do what suits you as as a family if you are staying for more than a few years - then when the time comes for you to sell you can take advice from local EA to work out if ripping out an ensuite or putting one is is a return on investment at the time.

scrabbler3 · 17/12/2017 22:52

I agree with doing what suits you but fwiw I'd prefer the extra room as a study and I think that with working from home becoming more commonplace, many buyers would prefer an extra room to more bathrooms.

Flip