I have a question which is currently a pretty heated debate in my house. I know that a lot of you ladies either recently purchased homes or are looking to so I thought that this might be the right place to solicit opinions.
ANY of your opinions are SO appreciated so thank you in advance!!
Our home was purchased nearly two years ago as a two bedroom, one bath, two story cape. The appeal of the home in short, is it's property. We have, of course, a front and backyard but right across the street we also have a yard about the size of our backyard as well that sits on the water, where we dock our boat and our kayaks, making the house a water front property. About two blocks down it leads out into the open water.
Now that you can (hopefully) picture the house...
The plan was always to convert the never finished top floor into a two bedroom/one bath. But one month after buying this house, the housing market crashed so the project was put on hold until about two months ago. We put in two bedrooms upstairs, including a master, tons of storage (5 crawl spaces and 2 closets, 2 big linen closets in the connecting hallway) and now the question is the bathroom...
The Realtor says that if we put in a bathroom upstairs it may help sell the house more quickly but we won't get any of the money back for it. Installing plumbing is really expensive plus all of the permits and jazz that go into it.
So now that I've talked you all to death, my questions are simple...
Does a 4 bedroom, 1 bathroom house sound weird?
Also, would you pay more money for a house with 2 bathrooms or would you just as soon put a 2nd one in yourself if you wanted one upstairs?
We're in the final stages of being done in a few weeks (which is great because I can do more wedding planning) but a decision needs to be made and I don't think it's worth the money because I think whomever buys will do what they want to it anyway. Unless it's too much of a turn off that there's only one bath. I guess the good thing is that even when the market was at its worst, houses on the water were the only ones still selling so maybe it's not too bad a deterrent.
Help please!!!
MikesBride2B
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
Personally I'd be a little weirded out by only 1 bathroom and 4 bedrooms...if I were looking at that house it'd be for me and whatever kids I have and I wouldn't want to share a bathroom with all of them. Its definitely something that would keep me from buying the house.
jcreilly
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
We are looking for a house but i will not buy anything that has only one bathroom it has to have at least two, maybe 1 and half i would if we liked the house. i think most people do want at least two bathrooms
bulldoglover
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
As someone who is currently on the market to purchase a home, I would definitely want to purchase a home with a second bathroom already in place rather than install it myself. Mainly for the reason you listed below with getting permits etc. Hopefully that helps?
geegee827
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We are house hunting right now and honestly would be turned off by a 4 b/r 1 bath house. Especially if there are bedrooms upstairs and no bathroom.
KRISTIND
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any standard cape has 4 bedrooms 1 bath!!!!!!!
bride2b57
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What about adding a half bath? Its probably cheaper and would definitely be more appealing than one bath.
MrsCM
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Posted by KRISTIND
any standard cape has 4 bedrooms 1 bath!!!!!!!
I was just told that a 3 br/1 bath sold on our block (but half a block closer to the water which actually makes a difference for some reason) & if we got that amount we'd be thrilled.
MrsCM
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
Posted by bride2b57
What about adding a half bath? Its probably cheaper and would definitely be more appealing than one bath.
I guess I didn't mention that at most I think we're adding a half bath because to add a full one I think would make the non-master bedroom too small. Oops!
I don't think it would make much of a difference on cost. We have done EVERYTHING ourselves! FH has a woodworking business as a hobby & my uncle is an electrician and his uncle flips houses as a business so we really lucked out. Once we hire a plumber and they run a line, it's the same cost. Only difference is buying a tub I guess.
Utopia923
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
I probably wouldn't have even looked at a house with only one bathroom, so you're deleting a whole demographic of home-buyers.
When I was on MLSLI looking every day, I always put in 3+ bedrooms at least 1.5 bathrooms.
Good luck with the renovations!!
MarjorieFrank
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
Posted by Utopia923
I probably wouldn't have even looked at a house with only one bathroom, so you're deleting a whole demographic of home-buyers.
Good luck with the renovations!!
ITA
Good Luck
MrsCM
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
Posted by Utopia923
I probably wouldn't have even looked at a house with only one bathroom, so you're deleting a whole demographic of home-buyers.
When I was on MLSLI looking every day, I always put in 3+ bedrooms at least 1.5 bathrooms.
Good luck with the renovations!!
That's what I was worried about! Because unless people only check waterfront, that's what happens! I'm going to show FH this thread later tonight! Thank you so much ladies!
LuvMyHunk
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
I think you need to figure out how soon you are planning to sell your house, and what works for you and your particular situation. Also, there are lots of houses that are 4 bedrooms 1 bath, i should know i grew up in one with 7 people and its extremely feasible.
Best of luck
bkbaby4life
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
if the rest of the house is fabulous i would look past the one bathroom. the house we are currently in the process of buying has one UGLY bathroom downstairs and a toilet in the basement (that they call a half bath lol) but the rest of the house is perfect so we got over it.
TheLadyJ
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
I prefer 1 bathroom per floor. Some people spend alot of their time in their Master Bedroom, and having to trek downstairs in the middle of night to use the potty is not something I would want to do.
So, yeah, I would definitely install a small bath upstairs.
Almostawife
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I watch too much HGTV. You have to see what the comparable houses in your neighborhood have and what they are selling for. I know a lot of people looking now and if you don't make the necessary changes, your house could sit for a very long time.
I personally wouldn't buy a house with one bathroom, especially if it is not on the same floor as the bedrooms. (I might feel different in a ranch, if it was all I could afford)
alli3131
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I think you should spend the money on the bathroom. Are you planning on selling soon? If not then you might get the money back. In this market you probably wouldnt but since you are waterfront in a good market the price would def be much higher.
DH & I are beginning our search and I would buy a 2 bed 1 bath but with 4 beds then you really need a 2nd bath.
MrsCM
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
After reading what everyone had to say yesterday, we actually called our plumber to get an estimate. The reason we thought that people might prefer to do the work themselves was because the house is half dormered, or dormered or something that I always screw up. And basically anyone who has bought a house on this block has immediately dropped the doggy dormer top floor thing on which makes it much larger and suddenly makes a full bath make more sense. So our line of thinking became why put in a half bath when later they'll be enough room to put in a full bath, etc. Still, we're going to get the quote from the plumber to run the line because that's the only big expense and then talk to our realtor about it again.
As for when we're looking to sell, it's really up in the end. We'll be done with the attic so soon, and I'd really like to buy something while the interest rates are still low and before the housing market goes up any higher. But FH's position got excessed for next year (He's a music teacher, budget cuts) so until he finds a job next year we can't get preapproved for anything so we're kind of on hold. We'll be done within a month without a bathroom, I suppose a bit longer with one because I don't know how long the permit takes to come through but I think we're leaning towards one now.
Felice917
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Re: NWR: For Those Gals Buying Homes
If you are planning to sell soon, you might not want to bother putting in the 2nd bath. You can prob save yourselves time/money to do it, and you will not be stressed during a busy time of your life. If you are selling 2+ years from now, you should put in a full bath, which will ultimately bring up the value of the house and make it sell more quickly. Not to mention make it more convenient for you to live in the house. Good luck!
