This work will be worth the money, won't it? DH not sure!

[fromthevault]

Our washing machine is currently only accessible from the back garden and it's driving me insane. I want to do the work that will be necessary to be able to access it internally, but DH has expressed doubts that it will add value...is he right??

It's a detached 1930s house and the attached garage was converted long before we moved in and we now use it as an office / gym dumping ground. The back portion of the garage was sectioned off and the plumbing for the washing machine is in there. However you can't access it internally! This is manageable in the summer (and clothes are hung outside anyway), but horrendous in the winter months when I have to traipse in and out of the house with washing in the pissing rain or even snow.

After 4 years of this shit I'm fed up. There's no space in the kitchen to move the washing machine in there, but we could convert the 'washing machine shed' into a small utility, add a downstairs loo, and access it from the garage conversion / office. I feel as if the 10k or so we've been quoted (on average) to do this will be hugely worth it in terms of quality of life whilst we're here AND will add value if/when we sell. It's mad to have to go outside to put a wash on, right??

I would do it just for the ease and convenience. But it definately will add value too.

Access from garage only would bother me. I'd get the meters moved to create the access from inside the main house.

I wouldn’t even consider buying a house with that sort of setup, and I expect I’m in the majority, so agree with others that redoing it would massively help saleability.

Access from garage only would bother me. I'd get the meters moved to create the access from inside the main house.

It's not a garage anymore, it's an office /gym / general dumping ground that's accessed from the main hallway like a 'normal' 2nd reception. The previous owners used it as a bedroom for the oldest ds. So the new space would effectvely be en-suite to that room.

I was just wondering if it was worth paying extra to have the meters and consumer unit moved to access the 'new utility and downstairs loo' from the hallway rather than via that room, but I think I'm confusing the issue :D

Some years ago I spent 8k building a 6ftx6ft extension so I could have a proper utility room and get the boiler, washing machine etc out of the kitchen. Loads of people were just like "WTF are you doing?" but honestly that tiny room brings me so much joy! Its totally worth the money to have a practical set-up in your home that suits you.

downstairs loo, next to an office space/spare room, ideal if you ask me. And yes for your sanity too

So this is what I mean - access via a door from 2nd reception (converted garage) into the 'shed', blocking up the external shed door and putting a window there instead.

Or, could go through the 'cupboard' under the stairs but that would mean moving lots of electrics and £++ / hassle++

Having seen the picture I'd do the more expensive route.

Putting a door in that wall means it's no longer a private room. You might need a downstairs bedroom in the future.

I think you might regret the cheaper option in the long run.

So long as the garage/office was properly insulated so it wasnt freezing to walk through! It wouldnt bother me at all having that set up with internal access, and would be worth it even if it doesnt add value

Thanks for the diagram OP!

My thought would be to put in a door from the kitchen then add extra work surfaces and cupboards in the utility to make up for the loss of work surface/cupboards in the kitchen, rather than moving the distribution board if possible.

Otherwise, I think I'd pay extra to move the distribution board because if the access goes through the bedroom/reception room, a) you've got a long way to traipse around with washing (better than before but still potentially offputting for new buyers when you come to sell) and b) you can't really use it as a potential bedroom anymore which might also limit who you can sell it to because it will be an odd layout.

I think you will still find the proposed layout annoying - can you break through from the kitchen instead ?

I also wouldn’t buy a house with the existing set up ( unless you live in a fabulous location where many houses are compromised )

Can't put a door through from kitchen as that will mean removing my beloved pantry cupboard which I definitely cannot live without! No other space for it.

I don't think I could persuade DH that we need to spend a load more money to get all the electrics moved. I think it might have to be a compromise - at the end of the day the main thing is not traipsing outside with wet washing and getting a downstairs loo.

Ugh. This bloody house.

Personally, unless you use the room as a bedroom I wouldn't move the access.

Yes, it's not ideal, but for significantly increased cost, when the budget is already tight, I wouldn't bother. Having internal access will feel like such a win you probably won't mind.

If you ever come to replace your kitchen, I'd consider putting access in from there at that point, as that would be the most ideal scenario. Under the stairs is still a bit awkward.

If he doesn't do laundry he doesn't get to decide.
And never mind value in terms of £, what about value in terms of your time and convenience?

Oh that's a pity. What is the price difference between the internal door and the side access under the stairs? Did you get quoted on both? Lots of people have the distribution board near a door (usually front or back door) so moving it very slightly onto the left or right hand wall under the stairs could be a cheaper fix than moving it a long way away, especially if you're due a new board anytime now anyway.

This sounds like a 'it's happening or we are getting divorced' sort of conversation to me. I won't cast aspersions regarding you being the one doing the laundry as presumably your husband has some other chore as part of the division of labour. However, you could always offer to trade chores if he'd rather not spend the money.

Forgive me if I'm over-thinking and making this more expensive... But could you make that room a shower room with laundry facilities and get rid of the shed aspect? Then it would make perfect sense to have it accessed off that reception/bedroom as an ensuite and probably be a clearer value-add on the house to appease your other half.

Have you ruled out putting the washing machine in the bathroom? This is quite common in Europe

@fromthevault

theres no need to mess around with the under stairs cupboard. A door from the gym/office is fine.

ehy are you thinking about removing the external door? Then you'll have to traipse the washing around through the house to peg it out.

i would put a big utility sink in, not a little handwashing sink.

I'd look really really hard at the space to get a shower in, so someone could live there without going upstairs. It's invaluable.

it will increase the value, it will make it much easier to sell and most importantly it will improve your quality of life!!

it's a complete no brainer.

It might not add value but it'll certainly make the house more 'saleable' if/when you come to sell.

I wfh and need an office, if I was looking at your garage to use as this. If I had two houses, the same one with and one without the door I'd pick the one with the door

I wouldn't consider buying a house where I had to go outside to reach the washing machine!

I would keep a door to the outside!

Stack the washer and dryer and squeeze in a shower.

The quickest and cheapest solution is to delegate clothes washing and drying to your husband.

I agree it’s a no brainer. I would also (without wishing to get all Relationships-forum about this) be questioning whether my OH cared about me at all, if he couldn’t see why this was a no-brainer.

I don’t think the compromise route of going through the study wall would be terrible, tbh - unless you’re going to be looking to sell in the next z2-5 years, in which case I’d spend more money to sort the access from the kitchen or under the stairs.

In fairness to DH, we bought at the top of the market 4 years ago, we've spent a lot of money on the place already, and, as I said upthread, next door have been sitting on the market for a year and have finally gone under offer for less than they paid, so I think he's just having a 'god, more expensive work' wobble. It's not relationship-board-worthy, imo😉

This, turn it from a shed with washing machine into a proper utility/shower room, with toilet. Make sure the door to get into the garden is good and secure. You will be adding a whole extra room onto your house for peanuts.