Should I build an extra bedroom

Question

I’m 19 and just bought my first rental about 6 months ago. It’s a 5 bedroom with an ensuite, a powder room, and a full 3 piece bathroom upstairs. Basically currently 4 tenants share one shower and 2 bathrooms, and the one paying the most has their own utilities. I want to add an extra bedroom in the basement but am worried about if that’s too many tenants for too few baths. The cashflow would be incredible, so I obviously want to proceed, but I also want to keep tenant satisfaction in mind. What should I do?

Theresa Harris · Answer

I'd think about resale down the road.  It might make more sense to add another bedroom and bathroom downstairs and turn part of it into a separate self contained suite.  I can't see 5 people sharing one bathroom.

Scott Trench · Answer

I think that the sniff test is that this is not enough bathrooms. Four different tenants to one shower is a lot. You might be able to pull it off, but I'd strongly consider finding a way to add another bathroom in this case. Interested to hear what others think.

Logan Mingoia · Answer

Like many have already said. If it would be possible to make the downstairs into a self contained apartment (including bathroom) I would definitely do it. I’m currently in the process of a similar situation where I took a single family home and made the downstairs it’s own apartment with a bathroom and kitchen. The kitchen is not totally a necessity if there is not enough room but rents will be a lot lower. Maybe a kitchenette with a hot plate could work? Hope this gives you some ideas!

Bryan Devitt · Answer

@Isaac Hayes are you on town/city water and septic? If you're on private then you would probably have to prove your system can support another bedroom to satisfy the permits. Either way, I would not do it unless you can add a bathroom somewhere also

Nathan Gesner · Answer

Too many people for one shower. Seems like it would cause problems with lack of hot water, schedule conflicts, or whatever.

Chris Seveney · Answer

any chance you can add another bathroom somewhere?

Isaac Hayes · Answer

Ok Thank you, I will definitely take your recommendation into consideration.

Should I build an extra bedroom

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