Bathroom Laundry Debate

4 years ago

I am curious what you all think. I live in a 100+ year old historic home. We are adding an addition to the back to make a master suite and laundry area. The debate is what is better for resale value:

Option 1: 5 piece master bath with a walk in closet, but the laundry area becomes a closet and not a walk in room. Washer and Dryer are side by side not stacked.

Option 2: the master bathroom has a nice shower, but no bathtub, walk in closet and the laundry area becomes an actual Laundry room.

Which option do you think is better for resale?

Featured Answer

houssaon

4 years ago

It has been years since I took a bath. Always shower. Free standing tubs are a bit problematic to clean around. My vote would be option 2. I don't like the idea of going through a bath to get to a closet.

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Comments (11)

LH CO/FL
4 years ago
I spend as little time as possible doing laundry. I wouldn't waste a full room for a chore. I take the stuff out of the dryer and into the room that most of the laundry belongs to and fold it and put it away there.
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Denita
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I agree that option 2 is best (for me).

One of the best things to do is contact your Realtor and ask which of the two options works in your neighborhood for resale. Your agent should be able to show you comps in the neighborhood that have sold with your proposed Opt 1 and Opt 2 and the comparison to your style home to see the market value. You might not be able to get an exact match, but you should be able to see that with Opt 1 you can get $X and Opt 2 you can get $Y so you have an idea of return.

For me, I would much rather have an actual laundry room vs a tub any day. A tub I would never use. I use the laundry room all the time and IMO the bigger the better (extra storage, folding area, deep sink, washer and dryer). I love having a laundry room. A tub - not so much.
Megan thanked Denita
acm
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
#2

I always fold laundry in the family room while watching TV, but I still hate having stacked machines -- that means no room for detergent and other stuff, hanging a few things to dry, letting things dry flat on top of the dryer, piling up damp rags, and other things for which I use space in there. laundry closet = ugh. (although my laundry room is in a closet under the stairs, it feels more spacious in a big way!)

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Denita
4 years ago
mdln brings up a good point. Is the laundry room going to be accessed through the master suite or accessed outside the master suite?
Megan
Original Author
4 years ago
The Laundry will be accessed from outside the suite. The master bathroom and laundry room would share wall. An example of option 1 attached.

Also, We will not ever have stacking washer and dryer. Side by side always
Denita
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
What does Opt 2 look like? I "assume" that the double sinks are moved to the tub area and the w/d closet is expanded to room size by taking over the previous double sink areas. If you post a plan it would be very helpful.
Megan
Original Author
4 years ago
Don't have drawings yet for option 2, but essentially we would lose the bathtub to make more space available for a walk in laundry room instead of a laundry closet
Denita
4 years ago
I still like Opt 2 (if it is going to be accessed outside the master suite as shown) - the tub location in Opt 1 seems to be in a very awkward and non-relaxing location in Opt 1.
PRO
Beth H. :
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I never use a bathtub. I debated putting one in when we redid our bathroom. but then I thought, why do I want to spend another 8K just so 'future owners' can have a bathtub? That's insane. I'm living here.

So that's what I say to you. If you NEVER did this add-on, would the house sell? Of course.

And it will sell after you do the add-on and the seller will be grateful that there is an actual master with an en-suite AND a closet. YOu're way ahead of the other homes in the area. The laundry will be a bonus either way.

I have my washer and dryer in a large closet. there is enough room for storage and other little items. I fold my clothes on a table in the entry way (we moved these into an old closet that was near the front door) Do I wish I had an actual walk in room? you bet. is the closet doable? of course.

Either way gets the work done.

The real issue is, what do YOU want since you're the one paying for it and living with it?

Do that and screw what some distant buyer in the future wants, because after this add on, it's all gravy to them anyway.
HU-75440551
4 years ago
Just one warning: if you move the vanity over to the tub wall, the sinks will be facing windows instead of mirrors. I personally don’t mind this, but my husband HATES turning to shave. We re-did the entire master bath when we bought our house because of this. ;)