Posted by Killer Joe on June 22, 2006 at 21:39:44:
Jean,
This is not as uncommon as you are making it out to be. I have been in quite a few places that fit this discription. In fact, my dad owns a condo that has a bathroom directly off the kitchen, and I’m over there a lot. I would reconsider your take on this one before you spend any money ‘correcting’ this problem. If this was not a bandit build, it could be a case of much ado about nothing.
Try to remember you are handling ‘inventory’ and not try to bring the property up to ‘your’ standards. Those standards may be contrary to acting as an investor. Try not to reinvent the wheel…good luck.
Hi everyone,
I just went and looked at my first possible flip. So I walk thru the kitchen into the bathroom. The bathroom is directly off the kitchen! I guess ease of plumbing - whatever. So my question would be, go to the expense of completely moving it, or put the door off the living room? (Neither appeals to me, but it can’t stay off the kitchen.) Any advice is always appreciated. Jean
I’ve owned a two-family here in MA (on the NH border) for about 9 years now. My downstairs unit has one full bathroom…directly off of the kitchen. I’ve had one month of vacancy in nine years, never had a complaint about the location of the bathroom and receive over $1300.00 per month with the tenant paying utilities.
When my wife and I bought this house, it was our first house and purchased for a future investment as well. We never really thought too much about the bathroom being off of the kitchen and I don’t think that any prospective tenant or tenant has ever mentioned it.
That screams of code violation. There’s no way that would have been a part of original construction. Sounds like it was added on without a permit as well.
You may want to leave that one alone.
“Ease of plumbing” isn’t what you meant…potential plumbing nightmare is more like it.
My mother’s house had the bathroom off the kitchen. She had it removed when she upgraded the kitchen to modern standards, and it was a major construction/plumming job. Her house had been built in the mid-60s. Should be no problem leaving it where it is, certainly not a code violation.
Yes, plumbing is a major financial concern in design. Proximity to the kitchen is also handy since there is so much family activity there. Designs also come into & out of vogue. Many new homes have a bath near the kitchen (usually a 3rd bath these days). In 1960 it might have been the sole or 2nd bath. If it is the 2nd bath I wouldn’t worry about it; it’s probably an asset. If the house is a good enough deal for you to make your $$$ on the buy, you can still make it a good deal for the next buyer. Remember that charm can overcome design in some cases. Most retail buyers aren’t very practical–