motorbird83

That's interesting. I'm from the US and haven't seen any basement utility rooms but the US is a huge country :) Actually the downstairs configuration I've seen in older properties is the utility room off the garage which to me is perfect as it then doubles as a mud / boot room. I agree that the upstairs thing is new though-- I never saw them growing up.

Thanks everyone both positive and negative! As I suspected, if you've used one, you love it but if not I imagine it could put people off. Either way, it seems like more people like it than hate it both here and on this mumsnet thread. http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/792568-Upstairs-Laundry/AllOnOnePage I think it will work well for us so I'll just risk it hurting our ability to sell if we need to move on! In the US, luxury homes started putting a 2nd utility room upstairs in addition to the main one downstairs a while ago. However, now most new builds have the main utility room upstairs as its now the preference for convenience sake even if you just have one. I must admit, the US isn't much of a line drying country though which probably has a lot to do with it. If you line dry, I can see its not that much more convenient. For us though our garden is too small for line drying and we'll use airers. On the few rare days that its nice out, the last thing I want to stare at in the garden are my knickers flapping in the wind :)

Hi all-- as part of the renovation of the house we've just bought, we are thinking of creating an upstairs utility room by reconfiguring the upstairs space a bit. It would be very small but have a washer, dryer, folding space, a sink and space for air drying things. Upstairs utility rooms are very popular in the US but if we sell I was wondering if it would put people off in London. The room will have a drain like a wet room does so that if there is a leak it will run into the drainage pipes without a problem. We are reinforcing the floor so that vibrations are not transferred and insulating it so it won't be noisy (as well as using anti-vibration pads). I'm sure it will work well for us, but given its unusual here, I wouldn't want to do something that would make the place really difficult to sell later on.

That's really helpful and our architect thinks we can squeeze in a small shower and still keep most of the extra storage we wanted by moving the washer dryer. We are keeping our master bedroom on the 1st floor with our existing ensuite so it was important to me that we have some storage that was accessible without going into the loft bedroom if you know what I mean. If that becomes a nanny's room, I'm sure she won't appreciate me popping in and shifting things around so I can get into the eves cupboard every time I need something. What we've designed is a reasonable sized storage cupboard accessed via the shower room in the loft-- loft shower room won't be ensuite for that reason. All in all, I'm glad you guys forced me to re-think my plans and the architect has come up with something that works really well! How deep is everyone's eves storage in the loft room? Do you think 5 feet is deep enough to be useful?

Thanks for the tip. How deep would you recommend? I think our current plans have 5 feet of eves storage but must of that is very low height. Would you suggest more so you can fit bigger items in? Thanks so much!

Yes, I've decided to go with the wisdom of the forum. I might be able to keep the storage space I want. The trick might be the location of the loo. Right now we are planning to run the waste pipe down behind the stairs so it connects with the waste pipe for the downstairs loo. The location it currently is in means we don't need a macerator (hurrah!). If we move the toilet over, we can get in a shower and keep some extra storage but I won't move the toilet if it means having a macerator. Hopefully, it will all be okay. Thanks for all the helpful advice!

Thanks everyone for your responses! I personally think 3 full bathrooms and a downstairs loo is a bit much for a 4 bed house but it seems I may come to regret only putting a WC in the loft. The idea of not having the storage though makes me break out in hives so I'm going back to the architect to see if there is any way to keep more storage and incorporate a shower into the WC in the loft. Wishful thinking :) devsdev- good luck to you too! I'm scared too as its such a big job and while its thrilling to be able to design your own space, it also a lot of pressure to get it right :)

So Tiddle you are going to have 3 bathrooms in total as well? We already have an ensuite and a family bathroom on the first floor so if we have go for the shower room in the loft, we'll have 3 full bathrooms and a loo downstairs.

That's really helpful! Pebbles, there are two double bedrooms and a small study on the first floor and there will be two bedrooms in the loft. If we can afford it, we've considered having a live-in nanny given we'll have the space. WoD, what's a whb? We are planning to put in a loo and sink in the loft in all circumstance but not sure if putting in the shower is worth the additional storage space we'd lose... I guess the question really is do most of you long for more showers or more storage (probably both!). It probably changes as kids get older I imagine. Thanks again for the replies as this has been really helpful :)

Hi everyone-- my husband and I are converting the loft in a house that we hope will be our family home and have to make a decision that I hope those of you that already have children can help me with. The house already has an ensuite and a family bathroom on the first floor and a WC under the stairs on the ground floor. When converting the loft, we have the option of adding in a shower room as well. Alternatively, we could just put in a WC and sink and have more storage space (and extra 5ft wide x 5ft deep and 4 ft high). On balance I suspect having the extra storage following converting the loft would be more useful than another shower. However, there will be two bedrooms in the loft so maybe it will feel like a pain for kids or guests to have to come and shower on the first floor? It would be great to hear if you think a toilet up there and storage is the better trade off or if you would expect a full bathroom! Thanks so much for your help!

Anyone opted for triple glazed bi-fold doors? I'm concerned they might be too heavy to move easily!

Has anyone on Pellatt Rd had their home underpinned or had to deal with any subsidence issues? Thanks for your help!

Does anyone know a good surveyor for timber and damp issues? We are under offer for a house and for reasons not worth getting into, I need a survey on these issues specifically. Has anyone used AR Surveyors before?

Winkworth are the best I've come across in the area. Many others are fine. I'd go with whichever one has similar properties on their books to what you've got to sell (they'll get you more viewings that way). If any of them have just sold something similar to what you have, that's usually a good bet as they will have disappointed clients waiting in the wings and will really have a good idea on pricing. The only ones I'd say to avoid are Foxtons (their pricing is usually unrealistic and properties sit on their books for ages) and Haart (because I think they are rude and unpleasant to buyers). In this market, any agent should be able to sell your property very quickly. The market is rediculously hot at the moment.

Anyone on Melbourne Grove or Colwell Road near Spellers Garage ever had any issues with noise? We are looking at a home near there and when we visited the garage was closed. We were just wondering how noisy it is when it is open. Thanks!

Yes, I think I will try to speak to the neighbours!

Thanks, I know the longer the garden is the later the back will still get some sun. The garden for the house I'm looking at is about 30-35ft. Not sure how long the sun will reach the back of an eastern aspect garden in a typical two-storey victorian semi. In the summer time, if the back of the garden got some sun through the evening so you could sit out after work, I think I could live with that, even if the rest of the garden was in shade.

Thanks!

I was wondering if anyone with an East facing garden on Lacon road could tell me how much summer sun your gardens get? I've always been a bit nervous about East facing gardens but have found a place that ticks most of my other boxes!

Chillaxed, do you happen to live in one of the semis on the East-side of the road? I'm just wondering if in the summer you get much sun as I've always heard that East facing gardens can be a bit tricky!

Thanks Chillaxed. You've made me slightly nervous but haven't quite put me off. I already live locally so know the area is generally quite safe by SE London standards. Glad to hear there are people happy with Goose Green living on the road. I supposed the new primary schools that are being proposed on the hospital site might also cover this area in future too so it seems better covred than I realised.

Hi, I am considering buying a home on Lacon Road in East Dulwich and was wondering which primary schools people have been able to send their children to. Lacon Road seems to be in a bit of a blackhole given how small local catchments are. Many thanks, MB

??? is right-- those who fervently defend gun ownership rights as he has laid it out. They also point out the Canadian stats showing that gun ownership by itself doesn't result in higher homicide rates. 3rd common argument is that illegal guns would continue to be available to criminals and then only the baddies would be armed while law abiding citizens lay helpless. I am American and am in favour of stronger gun-control but this triad of arguments, particularly that guns are not responsible for the homicide rate are part of the American pysche. Also, there are lots of anti-government militias (remember Waco Texas?) so that side of the argument isn't as antiquated as you might imagine!

Most of my gay friends have a disproportionate amount of gay friends. I am a straight token! Who cares... I've seen people post get-togethers for every kind of sub-group including just for people working in the media for goodness sakes!

Agree with Jeremy. A 15m journey on the train cannot be compared with a 45m bus journey (if you are lucky). You undermine your more credible points by saying things like that.