WWYD? - Home renovations

[KerriMc]

We are buying a house that needs renovating and are trying to come up with some ideas. The house is electric heat and we are going to switch it over to Natural Gas. Anyone ever do this? It is a two storey house so I know that makes it more expensive.

The one thing we can't decide on ... there are four bedrooms upstairs, no master bath. The one small bedroom backs onto the main bathroom (which has to be totally redone). Our thought is to take the wall down b/w this small bedroom and another medium sized bedroom to make a master bedroom and an ensuite bath (shower stall, toilet, vanity). This way this bathroom backs right on to the other bathroom and the need for the pipes is right there from the other one.

My other thought is to just have one bathroom and make the one there a bit bigger and nicer, and then make a laundry room upstairs instead. Otherwise our laundry is in the basement, which we are used to now (but we are in a bungalow).

What would you do? Laundry or ensuite more important???

Also ... would you keep a little powder room right next to the kitchen? I wondered about making it a laundry room / mud room through to the garage? Would I miss a bathroom on the main floor if we had two upstairs and the laundry room there instead???

Oh the ideas and questions .... I just can't wrap my head around it!!!!

Thanks for your input!!!

Kerri

[diznygirl]

I would do the attached bath to the master - very convenient for you as well as better resale value.

Whatever you do, check and double-check and triple-check the contractors!

[C.Ann]

If you're replacing your heating system, this would be the time to consider having central a/c done at the same time - if it's something you need or want.. It's much cheaper to do it all at once rather than individually..

Can the second bathroom upstairs be made large enough to accomodate the washer and dryer too? If not, you might want to do what my son-in-law did when he remodeled my house before I put it up for sale.. He made the downstairs bathroom a half bath with room for the washer and dryer.. He then put the full bath upstairs - right over the downstairs bathroom for pipe convenience..

If I had been able to keep my home after that, I would have really liked that set up..

[KerriMc]

I am leaning towards the ensuite bath seeing as I have two daughters, I figure down the road we will need to bathrooms!! There is a full one in the basement, but that is just kind of there for when we are downstairs or outside and can come in through the door by that area. I didn't think about seeing if we could put a laundry room there as well ... may be a bit too tight I think.

I would like the laundry on the main floor at least, but the powder room is pretty small. I don't know that it could be pushed out into the garage and made into an entry from the garage and then have the laundry there with the bathroom. It would be one or the other I think. I don't want a stacking washer and dryer so would need space for both machines and a laundry tub. Don't know that the budget holds for that amount of work!

The main part of our budget is going to be the change of heating, putting in a/c and possibly putting in a gas fireplace too. Then we have to replace the bathroom upstairs, add the ensuite and make a master bedroom. We also have to do floors upstairs (carpet for now) and the kitchen floor. We are going to put up with the current kitchen cabinets (oak - bit old but will refinish maybe) and eventually do the kitchen. We like the location of this house and that is most important. It is a power of sale so we are getting a good deal on it and are able to put some money into it. I'd love to do the whole shebang but I do have to be practical !!!!

Kerri

[C.Ann]

Originally Posted by KerriMc

It is a power of sale so we are getting a good deal on it and are able to put some money into it. I'd love to do the whole shebang but I do have to be practical !!!!

Kerri

In that case, make a list - with everything prioritized.. Do what you can and when the wallet starts screaming, stop until you can afford to do more..

Sounds like it's going to be fun - changing things all around and making it "your" home..

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally Posted by KerriMc

We are buying a house that needs renovating and are trying to come up with some ideas. The house is electric heat and we are going to switch it over to Natural Gas. Anyone ever do this? It is a two storey house so I know that makes it more expensive.

The one thing we can't decide on ... there are four bedrooms upstairs, no master bath. The one small bedroom backs onto the main bathroom (which has to be totally redone). Our thought is to take the wall down b/w this small bedroom and another medium sized bedroom to make a master bedroom and an ensuite bath (shower stall, toilet, vanity). This way this bathroom backs right on to the other bathroom and the need for the pipes is right there from the other one.

My other thought is to just have one bathroom and make the one there a bit bigger and nicer, and then make a laundry room upstairs instead. Otherwise our laundry is in the basement, which we are used to now (but we are in a bungalow).

What would you do? Laundry or ensuite more important???

Also ... would you keep a little powder room right next to the kitchen? I wondered about making it a laundry room / mud room through to the garage? Would I miss a bathroom on the main floor if we had two upstairs and the laundry room there instead???

Oh the ideas and questions .... I just can't wrap my head around it!!!!

Thanks for your input!!!

Kerri

OK, my first thought is the money. What can you afford to do?

Second, I would absolutely keep a bathroom on the main level. I know you want a laundry room there but no bathroom on a main level would be a killer with resale if you had to sell it.

Not to mention sending guests upstairs/downstairs to go to the bathroom could be a problem. What if they have mobility issues with stairs?

I can certainly see taking over the 4th bedroom to make a master bath as a plus for you. I have 2 girls, 13 & 18 and no way do I want to share bathrooms with them.

Now that will be good/bad as far as resale. Good that you have a master bath, bad because you are now taking your house down to a 3 bedroom listing. No gain on the renovation as far as $$$$. Could even be a loss.

Make sure you do not put in high end granite, marble, etc...Keep you materials in perspective money-wise with this renovation. Make it nice at the same time do not go overboard, if that makes sense.

I do not think I would kill a bedroom to put in a laundry room. Generally an upper floor laundry room is in a high end house and with 3 bedrooms on your listing it is not a "fit" if that makes sense. Now I am not saying it is not functional for your family, I am strictly talking resale.

You have to keep your house in line with your neighborhood and you do need to think resale in your renovation. Not only does it keep your price for the renovation in line, it also keeps what you should be doing in this house in perspective.