Thinking of extending with an ensuite? We discover whether it adds value and, if so, how much?
It may sound fancy, but what exactly is an en suite bathroom? In case you didn’t already know, it’s the name for bathrooms connected to any bedroom in the house, though it is usually the master bedroom. In recent years, they have been in high demand, with some property agents claiming that an ensuite bathroom could add almost 5% to the value of the home—that’s an upside of well over £10,000 given that an average UK home costs around £280,000 nowadays. If you’re curious to find out just how much value the addition of an ensuite can bring to your home, then this is the article for you.
What the people say
Over 30% of respondents in a recent survey have reflected their wish to have an ensuite or shower room added to their property, though 48% of the respondents have also indicated cost as a deciding factor. While it is possible to work on a budget and keep to a cost of around £6,000, various factors can influence the figure of your extra bathroom such as your choice of fixtures and fittings, the size of your ensuite and if you are doing it yourself or hiring the professionals to get the job done. Though an ensuite might add value to your house, you’ll also want to evaluate if you can afford it prior to making any plans.
Moreover, while it is possible to have en suite bathrooms or shower rooms converted out of most spaces, you might want to think twice before converting a small space into an ensuite. If you stay in a loft or are thinking of getting a loft conversion, for example, the addition of an ensuite could even lower the property value and asking price, given that the space is already likely to be limited. Close to 40% of survey respondents with Direct Line home insurance have indicated that they would pick a larger bedroom or extra bedroom over an ensuite, so you might want to keep this in mind if your living space is already quite limited.
But if your choice is made
Perhaps you’re a parent and are looking for some quiet space away from the kids? Maybe you have a newborn who needs the accessibility of an ensuite from your small bedroom? Some of the reasons why an ensuite is desirable could be to avoid disturbing other family members and for added privacy. In this case, you’ll want to look at how much potential appreciation of your property could occur after the ensuite is added in.
If you’re unsure what appreciation means, it refers to the rise of housing values over a period of time, as the situation of the property market improves. Since 2017, the median prices of homes that cost less than £500,000 have seen an increase of over 10%.
If you’re looking to make calculations on how the addition of ensuite bathrooms will add to your home’s value, then you’ll have to exclude appreciation over time.
Calculations have revealed that an ensuite could add a net gain of anywhere between £10,000 to £15,000, which are conservative estimates after accounting for the cost of renovations. This is especially so if you know for sure that the lack of an ensuite was what led to a depressed price when you first bought the house, and also if you can confirm you are one of the few houses in the area that does have an ensuite, giving you an edge over your neighbours.
This will differ from region to region, of course. If every house in your area has an ensuite, you’d better make sure yours does too. After all, you don’t want your house to be the odd one out, without an ensuite, when you go to sell it off in the future. This could result in a lower property valuation, or, in a worse-case scenario, not being able to attract a buyer at all.
A fresh, modern ensuite bathroom could add value to your property price
Estimating the cost of an ensuite
Once you add up the costs of labour, materials and the like, to have an ensuite added in could set you back by a couple of thousand pounds. Most en suite bathrooms contain essential furniture, including a toilet, sink and bath. If you’re looking to get an ensuite with all the bells and whistles, then it could go well above that amount. So, be sure that you can finance the project before you start.
Handy hint: Find out the latest costs for a new bathroom
If would still like to get an ensuite installed without burning a hole in your pocket, then consider adding an ensuite on a different level directly above or below where an existing bathroom already is. This will save you a good amount of money since you won’t need to redirect plumbing such as soil stacks or waste pipes.
Could you fit a multi-purpose shower bath into your ensuite bathroom?
Other points to take note of
If you’re living in a listed building and are thinking of adding an ensuite, you’ll need to receive Planning Permission from the relevant authorities. However, if you are simply joining an existing bathroom to a bedroom by hacking down false walls, then this would not be needed.
Bear in mind that whatever work you start on will also need to meet your local building regulations. This could mean a minimum space from the toilet to the sinks, or the position where an ensuite can open up into. You can swot up on this subject by reading our in-depth article on bathroom clearance guidelines.
Lastly, never scrimp on hiring a qualified electrician or plumber to have the work completed. This is essential in ensuring your safety while using the ensuite, you can look online for reliable reviews before choosing an electrician or plumber. If you are on a budget, you can save on other areas such as the basins, sinks, or type of shower you put in instead.
Conclusion
With all that said, the final answer as to whether ensuites add value to a property isn’t straight forward. Instead, multiple factors are involved in this valuation. If you have a decently-sized ensuite with good handiwork and fixtures added in, then it is likely to be more valuable. Of course, you’ll need to account for the cost of this renovation before ultimately evaluating the net gain.
Shop products featured in this article
If you do decide to go ahead and add an ensuite bathroom to your home, you can save money without skimping on style by shopping at Victoria Plum. As the UK’s largest online only bathroom retailer, you’ll find an extensive range of ensuite bathroom suites, plus all the essentials like furniture, heating, lighting and more. Click on the banner below to begin browsing today.
More ideas and advice on ensuite bathrooms
If you’re specifically looking for information on ensuite bathrooms, you’ll be delighted to know that here, at Victoria Plum, you’ll find plenty of in-depth articles on this subject. Whether you want to know how big an average ensuite bathroom is or wish to discover what’s included in an ensuite, there’s an expert article for that. If you’re already searching for products, check out our ensuite buying guide first and read our guide to planning your ensuite.
In need of that initial spark of inspiration? We’ve got plenty of ensuite bathroom ideas to help you out, plus a focus on getting the most out of your ensuite.
