Negative Points When Selling A House

[silliemillie]

My friend and neighbour is thinking of selling her house but is worried how a few negative things may affect the value.

The road is on a bus route, the bathroom is downstairs and its ex council (tho only 1 of 12, not on an estate the rest of the houses are private).

She's going to get an estate agent in but is just wondering. (So am I cos I live in a similar property tho I don't want to sell, but I am nosey!)

Anyone with property sales out there?

[Quizproquo]

A major transport route is a positive - easy access tot the city and all that.
My house was advertised as ex-metro instead of ex-council. It made it sound posher
Some people like the bathroom downstairs, but it could always be seen as a fixer upper and should be priced accordingly.
I don't think these things will affect the value. It is what it is.

[ummmm]

I've bought and sold a few. All those things will have an effect on the price and sale-ability. I wouldn't buy a house with just a downstairs bathroom but I wouldn't mind a bus stop. It being council would depend on the area.

[Buenchico]

As QPQ suggests, being on a bus route is often a positive factor. (It's only having a bus stop right outside the house that can sometimes be a negative, as potential buyers can be worried about bored people in the queue staring through their windows).

All houses constructed since 1999 have to incorporate a wheelchair accessible WC which, in many cases, means that modern houses are now built with ground floor bathrooms. (I was brought up in a house with a ground floor bathroom and I regard is both 'normal' and 'logical'; I'd much rather that my present home had the bathroom downstairs than upstairs!). So having the bathroom downstairs certainly won't deter everyone!

'Ex-council' was a definitive 'negative' when the 'right to buy' was first introduced but, now that nearly all former council houses have moved into the private sector, it's almost certainly far less so nowadays.

[silliemillie]

Thanks all for your imput. Ummmm, how much difference do you think it will make in your experience?

[RATTER15]

"So having the bathroom downstairs certainly won't deter everyone!"

yes it would, me! I hate downstairs bathrooms, if I need the loo in the night I don't want to be going downstairs, and my partner would not be able to get downstairs at night.

[silliemillie]

Ratter, I know a lot of people don't like downstairs bathrooms but I think I go to the loo more times in the day (when I am downstairs) than I do at night. Wouldn't have thought many people go more at night than in the day.

The modern properties have got it right, one loo on each floor but our houses were not built with bathrooms so it was easier to tack it on the back.

[Islay]

I agree with Ratter I would not buy a house with a downstairs bathroom only! I get up in the night too often to be running up and down the stairs.

If I was in such a house I would sacrifice some of the bedrooms and make a small wetroom or showerroom with loo upstairs

[ummmm]

I think area is very important, where I live the houses sell really really fast and you'd pay a premium.

[murraymints]

I wee many times through the night so would not like a downstairs loo only..I would convert downstairs into a utility with loo and convert an upstairs bedroom

[Dodger666]

If we had a only a downstairs loo I would take a bucket to bed with me. Luckily we have a loo upstairs and down.

[ummmm]

Same for us. Downstairs toilet, upstairs bathroom.

[Eve]

I grew up with a downstairs bathroom but would much prefer an upstairs bathroom with a downstairs loo if in a house.

Bus route would depend on a number of things for me. How frequent it the route and how close to the front of the house? If it was a very frequent bus service (we have some routes here with double decker buses every few minutes) and if large noisy buses and a straight on to road facing house (rather than being set back from the road) it could be off putting.

Similarly if it would generate a lot of noise and pollution late at night or very early in the morning, especially if someone likes open windows.

The bus stop point is another good point, if people are going to be stood right in front of a house right on the street, especially very early or late and the associated noise and littering.

[Eve]

Sorry, I meant the pollution generally, not just early or late! I lived in a flat off a very busy road and heavy bus route (it was in a city centre though)and I love having my windows open. Even a few floors up, the grime which used to appear round the windows was horrible!