My wife came up with a suggestion about our home which I like. However, I would like some input concerning value of our home. We have a 1700sq ft home with two full baths and one 1/2 bath that is literally 3 steps from our open kitchen - just across the hall. Our kitchen is fairly small and has limited space so my wife suggested we convert the half bath into a pantry. In terms of flow in the kitchen, it's perfect. My question: would this lower the value of our home?
We would likely just cap all lines so that a new owner could convert the bath back if they wanted it.
If the next owner is into cooking, the pantry could be a great asset. My only caveat would be this: Do you ever use that bathroom when you have messy shoes on, maybe from yard work, and don't want to march through the rest of the house to one of the other bathrooms?
i think it would lower homes value, if you do it at least leave the plumbing in place take photos of open walls etc so the next owner can put it back easily.
how long are you planning on living there? if its forever do what makes you happy. if its move in 5 years do whats better for homes value
you might check with a local realtor, if all the nearby homes have this bath removing it could make it hard to sell
i think it would lower homes value, if you do it at least leave the plumbing in place take photos of open walls etc so the next owner can put it back easily.
how long are you planning on living there? if its forever do what makes you happy. if its move in 5 years do whats better for homes value
you might check with a local realtor, if all the nearby homes have this bath removing it could make it hard to sell
I don't believe in doing things for "the next owner" . Whose house is it anyway? It's kind of like putting seat covers on nice velour seats in a car, who are we saving them for??? I say if a pantry is what YOU need, then by all means go for it.
Anyway, big pantries on the main floor are cool, and a good idea, especially if the only other option for storing some food is in the basement, which may not be the best environment.
If you're planning to move soon and are also needing to count on maximizing the return on the sale of your house, I'd consult with a real estate agent - it all depends on how houses like yours are usually set up in your area, and the specifics of the bathroom placements.
But, if not (and even if so - you'll still have two full baths!), I'm with the folks who say houses are for the living, and if a pantry is the way the space is the most useful to you (sounds like it), do it. Enjoy.
New owner? Are you planing on selling soon? I've seen tv shows with realtors preaching that bedrooms (numbers) and bathrooms (numbers and quality) sell houses. You might be reducing the value of your home. Also, some local taxes are based on bedrooms and bathrooms, so you migt then be overpaying for taxes for what you have.
Might want to consult with a designer/builder and keep that bathroom, and get options to increase your kitchen size.
Good luck, and keep us up to date with what you do.
Sitting here, looking at text post across the internet, I'd lean toward "yeah, it very well may reduce the value of your home." There's no field in MLS for "pantry."
However, the reality is in the details. The old wisdom is "kitchens and bathrooms sell homes" and of course, here you're at odds with each other. If you can make that pantry really cool and really memorable such that it makes the female half of the couple looking at your home next light up and say "wow that's cool and unique, and I love it! A walk in closet for the kitchen! WOW! Now that I think about it hte other places in this neighborhood don't have enough kitchen storage!" then you may sell faster or for more money than otherwise.
But if you make that pantry look like a converted bathroom such that it sticks out with mixed feelings, and you're reducing your MLS bathroom count by .1 you may be undermining resale value.
A good idea if you can do it in the wall, perhaps behind an access panel(s). The toilet drain will be the one requiring some creativity. And the ceiling vent might be something you want to hide somehow so the buyers can't look up and say "Do I want my food in a place people used to crap?"
That's the nuttiness about value--perception becomes reality in a hurry, and there's no way of reliably predicting what folks will love or hate.
Or incorporate a small utility sink into the pantry plan for cleanup or additional food prep space, or as a wet bar, since the plumbing is already there . . . .
210.52(B)(1) Receptacle Outlets Served. In the kitchen, PANTRY, breakfast room, dining room, or similar area of a dwelling unit, the two or more 20-ampere small-appliance branch circuits required by
210.11(C)(1) shall serve all receptacle outlets
You could probably get away with this if you call it a closet so be careful with what you say on the plan ... or listing. This is the kind of thing home inspectors or electrical inspector point out.
I've seen pictures of creative storage built in between the studs. I could find a lot of wasted space...but a half bath for guests seems more valuable to me rather than just a simple pantry. I would look at other options for pantry style storage before I ripped a half bath out.
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