You can't beat convenience- Just curious- what was your cost? Terry K

Thanks everyone. We went ahead and did it anyway, the job was a bit on the expensive side, but well worth it. I agree, many people will find a bathroom off of a kitchen icky, but it is well vented, and the door does not open directly into it. Besides, we had a full bathroom upstairs, and a full bathroom downstairs in the finished basement, but running up or down stairs, or sending guests there, became less and less appealing. We chose that spot because it was an unused breakfast nook, and did not take away from the living room area or the dining room area. As for value, well possibly or even probably it maybe wasn't the best location, but since we did this primarily for convenience and not for value, I guess it matters less, and long term the value is in not climbing stairs to use the bathroom, not in the equity added, if any.

Thanks for all the comments.

Antolin

Hello Antolin and thanks for your question.

On this one, I'm going to have to side with Terry. Unfortunately, home buyers are not huge fans of the bathroom next to the kitchen. As one of my buyers told me recently when looking at a similar 1/2 bath addition in an otherwise completely lovely home, the bathroom next to the kitchen was "gross." In the majority of situations, the 1/2 bath next to the kitchen becomes a liabilty rather than an asset, and the buyer thinks only of the cost of removing and replacing the bathroom with something more appealing--like a large pantry.

Also, depending on the building codes in your city, a bathroom of 4 feet by 5 feet may be too small to meet building codes. Although you will not be altering the footprint of the home, because you are adding plumbing and additional waste for the area, you should obtain a building permit for the project. When the city reviews the plans for your new bathroom, they can tell you whether or not the new bathroom will need modifications or can even be built in the location you suggest.

Personally, my experieence would lead me to believe that you'll get far more "bang for the buck" by adding little luxury items to the kitchen, such as a lighted pantry rather than the 1/2 bath.

Good luck!

Sincerely,
Grace Morioka, SRES, e-Pro
Area Pro Realty
San Jose, CA

A bathroom next to the kitchen- not usually a good idea. If you need that 1/2 ba for your convenience-perfect-not for resale purposes. Approximate cost depending on where the plumbing is and if you will be using wallpaper or tiles ? $3,000-$6,000. you are not adding value....the cost and aggravation would not be worth while-do you have a finished basement?

I've seen buyers rip out bathrooms near the kitchen.-to make way for huge pantry and another for a small office space for their computer, I've been selling in Flushing North Bowne Park for almost 20 years. Terry K 718-614-3167 cell

You have some great questions..good job on doing your homework before making a decision. So here we go..
1. I would call it a remodel because you arent adding to the footprint..but other could call it an addition
2. A half bathroom WOULD likely be a good investment if done at a low cost in your neighborhood. So the question for you is will the new bathroom fit into your homes design and look good? or is it in an odd location? If in an odd or unnatural location it could actually reduce the value of your home. A real estate agent or architect can help make this decision
3. Try the online kitchen remodeling calculator at http://www.remodelormove.com it will give an estimate of the cost for this remodel and an estimate of how much your home could appreciate.

The cost of an additional 1/2 bath would be dependent upon where the plumbing needs to be run, where your waste line is, etc. You must get contractor estimates for this.

A certificate of occupancy will be necessary from your town, along with a building permit. Although you are not changing the footprint of the house, there will be an impact on your taxes. The tax assessor's office should have a formula for your area for a 2-piece bathroom.