thebathroom.info

How adding an extra bathroom could improve your selling prospects

Adding value to your home

With the continued rise in house prices, and a surge of home improvement programmes, it is becoming increasingly popular for home-owners to make the most of their space by extending and improving their homes.

Due to house prices edging ever higher, more and more properties are being quoted on a ‘per square foot’ basis rather than per room.  A tastefully converted loft, or the addition of a conservatory or extension can help increase the amount of usable space and in turn it’s value to a buyer.

Remember though that the more money you invest does not always mean the more you will get back in return.  Do some research. It is not worth spending £10,000 on a stunning bathroom suite if properties in the area are only fetching £100,000.

Makeovers do not necessarily add value either, however they can help to sell a home. If improvements are being made to sell a property keep work simple and try not to make it too individual.  A plain white bathroom suite is not going to offend anyone, and a neutral kitchen is not going to turn off buyers.  All work carried out must be legal and to a high level, this is especially so for plumbing and electrical work. Jobs done to a poor standard are more likely to reduce the value of your home. 

Conversions/Extensions
Loft conversions, extensions and conservatories will need to be checked by building inspectors to make sure they meet building regulations.  Before commencing any work you will need to find out if planning permission is required. For more information contact your local authority.  Taking professional advice is always money well spent and needn’t be expensive.  An architect generally charges 5 -10% of the total building cost and will come up with a wealth of ideas as well as being able to help you to navigate the planning laws.

Bathrooms
The addition of a second bathroom can add up to 9.7% to the value of your home -– in London this can be as high as 15.6%.  Two bathrooms in a house are now the norm, and all new houses built must include a cloakroom on the ground floor.  Seven years ago 93% of all properties had just one bathroom, but by the end of 2002 one in five properties had two or more. There are now three bathrooms in every four new homes built, and 10% of all new homes built have three or more bathrooms.

If an extension is to accommodate a bedroom make sure it incorporates an en-suite, these days people expect to see en-suites with the master and often second bedrooms too.  If an extra bathroom is being installed it is vital to check that the existing boiler can cope with the increased demand, if not a new boiler may be required.

It is always advisable not to loose a bedroom to accommodate a bathroom, however in certain circumstances it would be better practice to do so – such as a 5 bedroomed house with one bathroom.  In this situation it would pay to add another bathroom and loose the smallest bedroom.  Obviously adding an en-suite to one or more of the bedrooms would be preferable, if space allows.

Some bathroom suites have been designed with small spaces in mind and work very well in en-suites and smaller bathrooms.  The Ideal Standard Space collection makes use of every available inch, without compromising its contemporary good looks.  The range includes washbasins that fit narrow spaces and corners; shorter, wider baths and a toilet seat that can be angled right or left to fit a particular space.

This range of products allows space which previously could not have been used with standard products, to be fully utilised, therefore providing that much needed extra bathroom or en-suite.

Whilst you can change the property to an extent, it is worth remembering that influences such as location, original house size and market forces all limit property prices.  At the end of the day your property is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it!