Would buyers prefer a downstairs shower room or utility WC?

[ElatedOliveCrow]

We are in the process of remodelling a house in order to sell (we won't live there). The house is a semi-detached chalet bungalow that originally consisted of 2 large bedrooms upstairs (no bathroom) and then downstairs a smaller third bedroom and the family bathroom, as well as a lounge and a separate dining room that is open to a compact kitchen.

We have added a dormer to create a third double bedroom and a much needed family bathroom upstairs. We plan to pinch a section of the current bathroom to improve the kitchen, and what is left of the bathroom will be a space approx. 1.7m x 1.5m.

We had initially planned to refit this as a downstairs shower room to serve the fourth bedroom, but after giving it some thought, we wondered how many families would actually use this as a bedroom (as opposed to a play room, home office etc), and we have been considering whether a downstairs WC with space for a washer and dryer (as well as storage and drying space) would appeal more to the type of family who would buy this home?

In the larger kitchen, there would be space for a washing machine, but a dryer would need to go elsewhere. We wondered if a dedicated utility space would therefore be more useful and desirable than a second shower? To clarify, there would be a downstairs WC and basin in both options.

Given the dimensions and layout, there isn't space to do both, however as plumbing and drainage would be in place, it would be easy to remove the utility cupboards/worktop and install a shower cubicle in the future.

For context, the house is very close to good local schools and 5 minutes from the motorway, and would probably appeal to a young family. If you would consider buying a house with this bedroom arrangement, which would you prefer?

Are you absolutely certain that there's enough space for either option? We have a downstairs wc/laundry room with stacked washer and dryer plus room for drying and the room is 2.1 x 2.2. It is still pretty tight and there needs to be enough space to move the machines in and out for repairs/replacements. 1.5 x 1.7 is pretty tiny.

We have a downstairs loo/shower/utility room in a space 1.5m wide by about 2.2m long. The loo is opposite the door with a curved corner shower to the left. Along that same side of the wall, we have a length of worktop which has a couple of kitchen units underneath and the washing machine in the middle. Instead of a wash basin we have a kitchen sink within the worktop. Above the worktop we have an open storage unit where water bottles, tea towels, jugs/vases etc are kept.

It's been like this for ten years now and although the downstairs shower was used less when the DC were younger, it more than earns its keep now they are teenagers. We don't have a dryer so that wasn't something we factored in but it's not been an issue. We have a family bathroom upstairs and even though it's a Victorian house, it's possible for both showers to be used at the same time.

A shower over bath.

Toilet and utility room. With a decent sized sink for household cleaning.

I would stack the washing machine and tumble dryer to save floor space with sensible storage to larger items - vacuum cleaner and ironing board.

Toilet and utility room for sure. It will be used a lot more than the shower room.

Yes there's space. It will be compact but functional in either arrangement.

The door is on the short wall with the WC opposite. We could either have a corner shower and larger basin, or a 1.7m run of worktop with a 40cm cupboard and space for a side by side washer and dryer, plus some units/shelves on the wall above. If we stacked a washer dryer, we'd be left with about 1m of space next to it, but the door to the cubicle would be facing the WC and it wouldn't leave you a lot of space to get in/out. You'd need the corner and shallower sink unit in order to use the shower. It's definitely one or the other 😅

A pressurised system is what’s needed.

If you have a en-suite there is already 2 bathrooms? I can’t imagine not having a utility in a 4 bed. It would be a family surely? Dryer every time

The only thing I miss from my last house was a lootility about this size. The door was in the middle, right had the loo left had a washing machine. We had a small window so added a drying space above the washing machine and had a small dehumidifier plugged in. I miss it so much.

I couldn't live without a utility room since having one. Double size sink is a must for bathing my Border Terrier without having to make a bathroom manky. Washing machine and tumble dryer spaces/plumbing plus a toilet.

Loo and utility or lootility for me.

I hate washing machines in the kitchen - not for hygiene reasons, I just don't like the look - and go out of my way to avoid this. Eg, our last house had a huge kitchen (after we knocked the old living and dining rooms together), but I refused to put the washing machine in there and the d/s loo was too small for it to go there. Instead, we made a small laundry area under the stairs which was accessed from the kitchen.

At our last-but-two house we put in a d/s shower room (it was a 2500 sq ft house with two further upstairs bathrooms plus a lootility on the ground floor), intending to use it for our dogs, but it was barely used.

Our door is on the short wall opposite the loo too. Could you have a bifold door instead of a regular one?

I would want a toilet and utility room. I've never understood why anyone would want a downstairs shower?
I get the fourth bedroom is downstairs but the likelihood of it being used as a bedroom is small, as other pp have said...more likely a playroom, office or whatever.

There is no en suite in this house, just a family bathroom upstairs. We are in the middle of renovating it to sell and we don't live there. We have an en suite at home.

Never seen the point of a downstairs shower room. OK, you've had your shower, now you have to traipse through the house to your bedroom to get clean clothes.

Pointless.

Well, I suppose if your bedroom was downstairs (as the fourth bedroom is in this house), then crossing the hall from a downstairs shower room would be quite convenient. However as the house was built with 2 bedrooms upstairs and only one downstairs bathroom to start with, the concept of going between floors to have a shower isn't that abstract...

It wouldn't really make a difference as the shower door would be about 20cm away from the toilet, which wouldn't be accessible. It would be fairly compact as it is, without trying to fit too much in to the space.

Sorry I misread. Not a hope I’d buy a 4 bed house with just one bathroom. I think that would be most people’s view, surely? People expect an en-suite now for at least the master these days. I think you need to think who would buy this and what are their options in that price bracket. You don’t want a large house with no market.

If you haven’t got a downstairs toilet, then definantly a toilet.

Utility and loo

I know in a new build people would expect an en suite but this is an older house with a slightly unusual layout so that wasn't an option here - we prioritised putting in an upstairs bathroom, which the house didn't have before. Anecdotally, we know a lot of families with 2 children that live in a 4 bedroom home because they need a home office, or wanted a separate play room. I do feel this layout will appeal more to this sort of buyer. And price wise, we're probably looking at around £60-70k less than a 4 bedroom home with a more traditional layout so we aren't expecting to compete in that same market really. There's a ceiling price on the estate so our renovation budget has to be mindful of that.

Why call the downstairs room a bedroom, why not keep it as a 3 bed? Downstairs space is the place people do their living. Would it compete better in that market. However, I’d still want another bathroom - that’s having 2 teenage girls, I’d never get to wash otherwise!