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Original poster

Does a utility help sell the property?

37 replies

CheamMumOf2Kids · 09/01/2019 15:25

Hi Ladies.

Need advice on having a utility and what do people mean by a utility.

We are in a process of a massive refurbish of our ground floor. Creating a snug/living/dining/kitchen space on the ground floor.
Now the question is should we squeeze a uitlity into this. Apart from this we already have a formal reception room.

Also I am confused about what a utility is.
Does utility only mean a laundry room or does it mean another room where you can cook/wash.

If utility means a laundry room then we do have one (like a store) but on the 2nd floor. But not sure if it will count as a utility but quite like it as I do not have to bring my laundry downstairs everyday.

If utility means a small kicthen where one can cook and wash without keeping the open plan area messy, then we will have to squeeze out space in ground floor which I am not quite happy about.

But at the same time would not like to limit the potential of my house.

OP posts:
BobTheDuvet · 09/01/2019 15:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

wowfudge · 09/01/2019 15:34

A utility room is usually a room separate from but attached to the kitchen where the washing machine and tumble dryer are housed. It is useful to also have a sink in there for hand washing clothes and messing clean ups without having to use the kitchen sink. Additional storage for little-used kitchen equipment is useful but not always included. A drying rack/airer of some sort for air drying clothes indoors is handy. It is not a second kitchen.

Having a utility room means you aren't having to eat meals in your kitchen diner against the background noise of the washing machine spinning. It also keeps dirty laundry away from food preparation areas.

Tiredeyes21 · 09/01/2019 15:34

We have a utility room on our ground floor, washing machine and tumble dryer are there. The boiler and also very usefully another sink unit

ajandjjmum · 09/01/2019 15:35

It the one area that we would re-think if we could re-design our Ground Floor again. When we initially planned it, we thought the utility - essentially a corridor between the house and granny flat - would simply house washing machine, tumble dryer and storage cupboards as we didn't have a pantry.

It would be better if it was larger.

Having said that, if I were to design a house from scratch, I'd put a laundry room, including the washer/dryer and room for an ironing board, upstairs! Grin

wowfudge · 09/01/2019 15:35

OP, your laundry room "like a store" sounds like an airing cupboard to me.

Fatoni · 09/01/2019 16:27

A utility room would tip the scales for me, it is on my "must have" list for next home.

Original poster
CheamMumOf2Kids · 09/01/2019 16:29

Thanks all for the advice.

Wowfudge - good enough to be called a utility without the sink as i have my washer and dryer in there.

OP posts:
BiscuitDrama · 09/01/2019 16:30

I’d just design it for what you want, unless you know your requirements are really unusual and you plan to move quite soon.

Are you in the U.K.?

If so, utility room would usually have room for washing machine/dryer plus a sink and some room to dry clothes on airers. Room to sort washing out too.

VictoriaBun · 09/01/2019 16:37

My utility room has a Belfast sink unit in, and all my laundry machines. It has a Victorian ceiling drying pulley maid, and wall length ,floor to ceiling cupboards in.

KatyWhatsit · 09/01/2019 16:39

A utility room is very important imo if you can have one.

We use ours for the washing machine and tumble drier. It has a sink and we clean muddy boots there, wash paint brushes, and do all the stuff you don't want in your kitchen sink.

We also have a clothes drier there where we hang wet washing.

I can't believe you don't know what one is :)
You not in the UK???

TheMincePiesAreMine · 09/01/2019 16:43

Laundry rooms are not common in the UK but that is the main function of what we call utility rooms IMO. I would have thought an upstairs laundry room would be even better, and would render a separate utility pointless.

Stick to the bigger kitchen.

Original poster
CheamMumOf2Kids · 09/01/2019 16:45

Well have seen many - but each purpose was different.

Seen many which have a gas hob and a sink too. With pantry cubdoards.

Yes very much in UK.

OP posts:
WinkysTeatowel · 09/01/2019 16:47

I would love a utility and it's on a must have for when we are next looking. I would like to be able to put washing machine & tumble drier out there, but would be (very) happy with your upstairs laundry room. However, I'd still like a small space with an additional sink plus space for muddy boots etc.

minipie · 09/01/2019 16:52

The important thing for me would be that the laundry machines are out of the open kitchen/dining/family room.

In your house they already are, in your upstairs “laundry machine cupboard”.

No need for a separate utility room as well, UNLESS you are in the countryside in which case some kind of mud room/boot room is pretty useful for containing all the grubby outdoor gear and inevitable gardening and dog kit.

Definitely no need for a separate “messy kitchen” to keep cooking out of the main open plan kitchen - I think they are only for prime central London where people have staff to do all the cooking!

TheMincePiesAreMine · 09/01/2019 17:02

Interesting. I've not come across the "messy kitchen" or a second hob in a utility before.

Is it possible you're looking at Jewish homes where they have separate meat and dairy kitchens, and they've been "spun" as kitchen and utility by the agents?

wowfudge · 09/01/2019 17:18

I wondered about separate meat and dairy kitchens too. I have never seen a house with a gas hob in the utility room. I've known people shut the slow cooker away in there, away from pets tempted by the smell of food, but nothing more.

Inforthelonghaul · 09/01/2019 18:32

My utility room doesn’t have a sink because it goes to the garage not outside so is more of a passageway. I prefer a long unbroken worktop with washing machine and tumble dryer underneath and wall cupboards above. It’s the best use I’ve found for a limited space and I definitely value it.

PizzaPlanet · 09/01/2019 20:15

I live the sound of your upstairs laundry, if I had that I personally wouldn’t bother with a utility if it meant that the downstairs space was compromised. However a ‘boot room’ would be a good alternative if you can fit one in.

BirdieInTheHand · 09/01/2019 20:23

I have utility that operates as a messy kitchen: washing machine, tumble drier and clothes racks along with large sink and draining board.

Used to do laundry, store occasional- use kitchen items and doubles as a boot room.

ChariotsofFish · 09/01/2019 20:48

We’re looking at houses at the minute and if they don’t have a utility I think about how we could create one. I think once you’ve had one you wouldn’t want a house without one. Personally I’d much prefer a downstairs one, for mud containment and ease of hanging out washing. But I’d still pick a house with an upstairs utility over a house without a utility.

BubblesBuddy · 09/01/2019 21:10

I wouldn’t want a laundry taking up space on the first floor. We prefer clothes storage and linen storage.

My laundry is also a boot room. However we also have a wine fridge in there, drying radiator and a clothes drying rail above work surface. Underneath we have boot storage and a huge basket for recycling paper. The washer and dryer have their own bespoke housing with cupboard above. I have a large hand wash sink with spray tap and draining board. There is also a large cupboard for cleaning materials, vacuum etc. Recycling takes up so much space these days so having space dedicated to this is important.

I would hate to go back to having washing and cleaning items in the kitchen. However any old space is not a utility or a proper laundry. Planning a decent space makes it worthwhile. My laundry isn’t near the kitchen. My kitchen looks over the garden and the laundry looks towards the garage!

duriandurian · 09/01/2019 21:11

In Singapore it is common to have a Wet Kitchen- for cooking smelly food etc. And a Dry Kitchen- where you would access the larder/ pour yourself a drink etc.. Our laundry, like most, led off the wet kitchen.
I thought it v civilised.

TweedAddict · 09/01/2019 21:23

It’s called the dogs bedroom in our house. It’s the most important room!

rainingoutside · 09/01/2019 21:40

It would to me! It was a must have when we moved. Typically a utility room would have washing machine/tumble drier/sink and ideally room for an airer. So useful if you like outdoor sports or simply have kids that like to get really muddy. I didn't want to have laundry baskets or muddy clothes on the floor any more while making dinner and eating!
Having said that I know three people who had utility rooms and knocked them into their kitchen to make a slightly bigger room meaning the washing machine was then in the kitchen, so in terms of selling it depends on who is looking round!

Titsywoo · 09/01/2019 22:21

We're about to turn our old downstairs bathroom into a utility room. I can't wait! I will have the tumble drier and washing machine in there. I large butler sink for soaking/cleaning boots/washing the dog. Plus the counter space for folding washing, maybe a pulley maid. DH is insisting we keep the toilet in there for guests which I didn't really want but compromise and all that!