Maximising Your Home's Value How To Add Value To Your House

Date Published:

25/06/2008

Bathrooms tend to have a shorter shelf life than kitchens, so a spanking new suite will be a lure for buyers. Thinking outside the standard threepiece suite of loo, basin and bath and about en suites and wet rooms instead is the way forward.

Money Pit Or Money Maker?

The trend in new houses is to have at least one bedroom with an en suite fitted as standard, so think about how to include one in your house. "Most of our properties with four bedrooms or more have at least a family bathroom and a master bathroom en suite, and often also include an en suite in a second bedroom", says James Wilson, development director of David Wilson Homes. "Even in our smaller homes we now include an en suite for the master bedroom wherever possible."

Walk-in showers and wet rooms are increasingly popular, as they are streamlined and minimalist. At the opposite end of the scale are bathrooms with stunning feature baths- solid stone, wood and glass versions are available (try 020 7228 660; www.alternative-plans.co.uk).

According to the Bathroom Manufacturers Association (www.bathroom-association.org), although we still want simple, contemporary design, rounded shapes are currently in vogue. And, just as the rest of the house goes open plan, so the washing elements of the bathroom are becoming part of the bedroom (although the loo remains behind closed doors).

Profit vs Loss

The trend, especially in new builds, is for bathrooms that take up less and less space, so there are cunning ways to make the most of a small area. Wet rooms are particularly suited to small spaces, as you don't need to mark out the floor with a shower tray. Integrated storage is also a great way to eke the most out of a space.

The Golden Rule

Only get rid of the bathtub if you are sure your future buyer will be like-minded. It's almost impossible to get a child clean in a shower, so families will take a dim view of there just being a wet room and no large tub to soak in. Rather than have an entirely open-plan room where the water can slosh around and be trodden all over the floor when people come in to use the loo, factor in low walls to distinguish between wet and dry areas. And make sure you have included as many water-saving devices as possible.

Expect To Pay

You could pick up a simple, but stylish, suite for as little as £400, but a feature bath will cost several hundred pounds or more. Creating a wet room starts at about £4,000, but remember to add on the cost of tiling a complete room.

Credit: Ray Main/Mainstream Images

Where To Squeeze One In

Large bedrooms are great for en suites, as you can create a new room within the old- but ensure it's sympathetically done and doesn't feel bolted on or squeezed in. Ideally, you need to let as much natural light as possible into the new space- whether with a window or frosted glass panels in place of a solid wall. Failing that, halogen lighting in a windowless space is a must to stop it feeling like a cell.

If you do have quite a small space to fit in an en suite, a wet room is a good option. However, it does have to be completely watertight, so you need to be completely sure that your plumber does the job right.

If you have a spacious cloakroom downstairs, turning it into a wet room is a canny move, especially if there is a crush in the existing bathroom. "It depends upon the property, but generally speaking if your house has more than three bedrooms it might be worth considering sacrificing a bedroom for a wet room", says Dean Sanderson. "You have to take into account the saleability of the property when making improvements. If you live in an apartment and your home is likely to appeal to young professionals, then an en suite will help you sell, if it is a family home then the extra bedroom could be far more beneficial."

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