I own a 2 bed, 2 bath house with my husband in San Diego, and we don't have kids. Both bathrooms are tiny, 5ft x 8ft each, one attached to our bedroom and the other accessible from the hallway. I really want a double sink vanity and a soaking tub since I enjoy taking baths. While this isn't our forever home, we plan to stay here for a while. We do have guests over often, so I thought about keeping two doors for access—one from the hallway and one from the bedroom. Would it be a mistake to combine the two bathrooms into one larger one? Besides the potential drop in resale value, are there other disadvantages? How much would the value potentially decrease?
3 Answers
From a resale perspective, going from 2 bathrooms to 1 could really limit your buyer pool, especially in your area. Most people look specifically for homes with at least two bathrooms. You might have a fantastic tub and vanity after the renovation, but will it be worth the cost if it dampens your home's value? Explore options like keeping one a half bathroom to maintain some flexibility.
Right? Plus, it can save both messing with renovations and potential buyer regret down the road.
Honestly, combining those bathrooms is probably not the best idea. You mentioned you don't plan on staying forever—removing one bathroom can really hurt your resale value. Think about how inconvenient it would be to share a single bathroom with guests, too. Plus, if you run into plumbing issues, you'd be left in a bind! Making the existing ones more functional could be a better approach.
Exactly! Two toilets mean that when one’s occupied, you still have the other available. It really makes a difference during busy mornings or when you have people over.
Totally agree! It's about convenience and comfort. A larger bathroom doesn't necessarily outweigh the value of having two bathrooms.
I totally get wanting more space, but I wouldn't recommend just combining them. It could be costly to reroute plumbing and there’s a real risk of negative impact on resale value. I mean, having two bathrooms is a big plus for many buyers. Maybe focus on how to make your current bathrooms feel more luxurious instead? A redesign or optimizing space could really help!
I agree! I think maximizing what you have can really improve your quality of life without sacrificing the value of the home.
You've already done some great updates, like adding a rainfall shower, which is awesome! But if space is still tight, perhaps a half bath could work? You know, keep one full bath for soaking and a smaller one for guests?
That's a smart point! Think about it this way: a half bath for guests keeps the full bath private.