Does a downstairs bathroom increase value of your property?

Whether you are looking to sell your property now or just increase its value, there are various things you can do on a budget to renovate your home and increase its worth. 

When it comes to decorating and renovating, most people will be amazed at how much value an extra toilet could add to a property. What’s more it can be easily installed without the need to build an extension or start knocking down walls.

Experts estimate that a downstairs toilet can add around 5% of the property’s value to your home. If you have a large cupboard or a chunk or another room you can convert, this could be an easy way to add an extra toilet.

“When discussing home improvements, renovations and refurbishments or indeed creating additional value, the humble ‘downstairs WC’ has been the poor relation to the more ubiquitous en-suite,” said Asa Bentley, managing director, Makeurmove.

The best barometer of intangible value could be calculated by the amount of use it gets or the number of people it benefits, according to Bentley.

He added: “The downstairs WC’s intangible value knows no bounds as it supports the needs of whole family – particularly useful for felt-pen wielding minors and less limber seniors”

The fact is that many homeowners like to entertain at home but do not wish to invite multiple guests to traipse up-and-down the stairs in order to use the family bathroom, making a downstairs WC a useful addition.

The cost of a downstairs toilet will typically range between £2.5k-£4,000 including materials and labour, and take between 1-2 weeks to complete.

Where or how to position a second toilet will take a lot of people by surprise, as Bentley explained: “You will not need to knock down walls or build an extension to fit one into your home. If you have a large cupboard, under-stair space or a portion of a room you can syphon off, this could be the perfect place for an additional toilet.

“For investors, property developers and sellers, the real reason you’re even considering the outlay is for the capital return. Well, expect to see around 5% increase in value, which based on Office of National Statistics September 2015 average house price figures, equates to up to £18,000 and £26,500 in London.”