Help me decide how to renovate

infantsorrow

We are buying a home that has 4 equally sized bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms.  Trying to decide if we should keep all 4 rooms, using the 4th as an office/guest room.  In this scenario, we would need to install another full bath in the basement (common for this area, but I think its odd).

Or should we knock out the wall between bedrooms 3 and 4, creating a Master Suite, and install a Master Bath? 

MommyLiberty5013

What are the homes in your area like? How many beds and baths?

If you sold this house, would buyers looking in your area have a certain expectation for beds and baths?

It's just MHO that major renos be done with the neighborhood and community in mind in case a resale has to happen down the road.

infantsorrow

# of bedrooms doesn't affect home value here, but having 2 full baths makes a huge difference.  I'm not personally a big fan of a full bath in the basement, though.  It's just weird to me.  Also, I've never heard of houses that don't have master suites until we started renting in this neighborhood.  I don't know if it will drive me crazy or not.  However, this (bath in basement, keep the 4 rooms) is DH's preference.  I may just have to live with it until we can expand on the square footage 10 years from now.  Blah!

spalko

Is your basement finished? The area that I live in is very rural so when I hear the word basement I think cinder block walls and concrete floors, not something that I really want to step out into after showering. I would look at it as what is going to give you more bang for your buck if you ever have to move. Will having more bedrooms be more appealing or more bathrooms? I personally think the master suite is the way to go and it's probably an easier renovation.

GeorgiaRiah

I would make the master suite.  You could always add an additional bedroom and bath in the basement in the future if you want to go back to 4 beds.  You just have to make sure it has a window and closet to call it a bedroom.

infantsorrow

The basement is finished.  The laundry is down there, and we plan to use it for storage and as an additional play area.  Regardless, I don't want to be taking my showers down there.  ...Maybe I can concede the basement bathroom if DH will agree to knocking out the wall, creating a Master bedroom and expanding the current bathroom into the Master bed, as well.