Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

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

Original poster

What would you prefer if you were buying my house

45 replies

planforeverything · 27/09/2022 15:08

Hi All,

Currently doing a back to brick renovation of a terraced house in London and there’s a room just off a bedroom that’s decent sized for an en-suite…or walk in wardrobe. I’m 50/50 on what to do with it and am thinking more about the resale value now to help me make the decision as this is unlikely our forever home (hate that phrase) and need to decide this week.

First floor has a master bedroom with wall to wall wardrobes and big en-suite and a guest bedroom with good sized en-suite and wall to wall wardrobes

2nd floor has two double bedrooms (one with no wardrobe, one with eaves wardrobes) and the family bathroom. One of these bedrooms (the larger and one with eaves wardrobes) is the one with the room off it for either an en-suite or walk in wardrobe. If we don’t go for an en-suite 2 bedrooms will share one bathroom.

When we do sell we’re looking to fetch top $$$ - our house was the cheapest on the street at £1.25m (sorry I wanted to avoid the money talk and its ridiculous that a terraced house in zone 2 London costs that these days) but trying to gauge what people would prefer at that price point. If you were spending >£1.8m on a terrace house in London would you prefer an en-suite or walk in wardrobe?

There’s also a downstairs loo (destined to be cleaning toilets forever)

OP posts:
MandyMotherOfBrian · 27/09/2022 15:11

Personally I’d always prefer en suite. But I’ve a lot of people visit and I like the fact we have en suites for that reason so there’s not lots of people having to share.

HerculesMulligan · 27/09/2022 15:13

It sounds as though the house might not have much storage left for suitcases, Christmas decorations etc. If that's right, go for the wardrobe. It has lots of bathrooms, but I wouldn't buy a house without any meaningful storage.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 27/09/2022 15:15

Go for wardrobe/storage option.

Sahgah · 27/09/2022 15:15

If I’m counting right you already have 4 toilets and 3 bathrooms. As someone living in a small terraced house in London I would prefer more storage than another bathroom.

StopFeckingFaffing · 27/09/2022 15:17

I would prefer the storage space personally

3 en-suites is more than enough

EleanorShell · 27/09/2022 15:18

I was thinking en suite until I read that 2 bedrooms already have en suites and the family bathroom is only shared by 2 rooms.

I would rather have this as a wardrobe/ storage area which could possibly be changed into a home office/ study space if needed.

SilentHedges · 27/09/2022 15:19

Could you have both? I have a victorian house, standard layout, stairs up the middle of the house, tiny square landing, door to left and right leading to double bedrooms. The back double bedroom has the classic "3rd bedroom/small room" leading off the back of it. Mine is about 10ft x 7.5ft and I have a dressing room/huge walk in wardrobe plus storage. You walk through that space to the en-suite that has a 120 cm shower, toilet, sink. I love that use of the space and it really drew to me the house when I looked at it.

If you can only have one, I'd go for the walk in wardrobe as you have plenty of bathrooms and the two bedrooms already share one which seems totally reasonable.

hennybeans · 27/09/2022 15:19

As it's on the top floor, I would imagine it will either be used for DC or occasional guest room.
2 DC can share one family bathroom easily, that's one less bathroom that needs cleaning and maintaining. If it's a guest room, then they almost have sole use of family bath, maybe sharing it with one child.

I think a large storage area is more useful, especially if there no loft.

But saying all that, people tend to think the more bathrooms, the better. It's not my preference, but probably will be for the majority.

Mosaic123 · 27/09/2022 15:22

You could put the basic plumbing in and moveable clothes rails and chest of drawers.

Then it could be either for the new people.

goshdoyoumeantobsorude · 27/09/2022 15:23

In your case a walk-in wardrobe and I am a big fan of en-suites.
I don't think you need the last one and extra storage is a huge plus.

cravattwat · 27/09/2022 15:28

I'd go for the storage/wardrobe. You've got enough bathrooms and toilets. I'd do very bad things to be able to have a walk in wardrobe.

The idea of having the basic plumbing done so it can be easily converted in the future isn't a bad one if it's possible.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 27/09/2022 15:30

Whatever you do, don’t put in a saniflo [AKA poo-processor]. That is my one absolute deal breaker.

I’d go for storage, btw, but I’m not a massive fan of en suites.

DeeofDenmark · 27/09/2022 15:37

Walk in wardrobe, you already have four toilets.

Surtsey · 27/09/2022 15:38

EleanorShell · 27/09/2022 15:18

I was thinking en suite until I read that 2 bedrooms already have en suites and the family bathroom is only shared by 2 rooms.

I would rather have this as a wardrobe/ storage area which could possibly be changed into a home office/ study space if needed.

I'm inclined to agree.

2bazookas · 27/09/2022 15:42

I'd go for a walk-in wardrobe. If you're any good at DIY or upcycling you can fit it out pretty cheaply, no big investment but still an eye -popping delight to a future buyer with teenage daughter. ( If they don't want WIW then they can turn it into an ensuite, still an easy option)

Ripping out an unwanted plumbed ensuite to make a walk in wardrobe is harder and more expensive.

Original poster
planforeverything · 27/09/2022 15:47

Thanks so much all. Sounds like storage space is the winner (living in a small flat right now I totally get it)

I should have said on the second floor I also have a storage cupboard that will store primarily the boiler but is also suitcase and Christmas tree storage. My main storage area is the utility room in the basement (4mx3m) so if we go for storage off the bedroom upstairs I think we’ll do wardrobes but I like the idea of putting the plumbing in just incase

OP posts:
Original poster
planforeverything · 27/09/2022 15:50

MandyMotherOfBrian · 27/09/2022 15:11

Personally I’d always prefer en suite. But I’ve a lot of people visit and I like the fact we have en suites for that reason so there’s not lots of people having to share.

This is my MIL’s and Mum’s view - that if you have lots of guests people always have their own toilet. My MIL has a real thing about it and when she buys (she’s moved 3 times in the last 6 years) she’s obsessive about how many en-suites there are as she thinks we won’t visit her often if we don’t have our own loo.

OP posts:
Deutschman · 27/09/2022 16:16

Why don’t you ask an estate agent which is most likely to maximise appeal?

Original poster
planforeverything · 27/09/2022 16:25

Deutschman · 27/09/2022 16:16

Why don’t you ask an estate agent which is most likely to maximise appeal?

Have messaged my local one today to ask! Great tip

OP posts:
mathanxiety · 27/09/2022 16:34

Storage would be my preference.

mathanxiety · 27/09/2022 16:38

Put a second sink into the upstairs shared bathroom if you can fit one.

And convert the loo into a Japanese bidet/loo thingamabob.

Even if you can't do the bathroom upgrades, I would go with the walk in wardrobe/ storage.

TimeforZeroes · 27/09/2022 16:42

I’d make it a large storage cupboard but without frills/ storage etc (just plugs and lights) so that people had the option of of being a small study or laundry room.

Thinkbiglittleone · 27/09/2022 16:46

Definitely storage.
Although I am not a fan of en-suites at al, but I have based this on the fact that I think have enough bathrooms anyway and I think storage in a house is so important.

peachgreen · 27/09/2022 16:51

Storage but with room for a desk – so many more people needing home office space now.

TheIsaacs · 27/09/2022 16:53

Storage. Two en-suite and a family bathroom, and a downstairs loo, is enough bathrooms!