imo, master suite

more appealing(potentially) to future buyers, probably comfier for you(?), marginally increasing square footage..shows as a full bath on the plans..sq feet plus amount of baths=reflects on the selling price. even if not by a lot-it will get calculated in

the other thing-option 2, with bath off the kitchen..is it directly off the kitchen, or next to it? directly off the kitchen-folks will be somewhat hesitant to use it. they will of course if no other option but not the best space for the bath

now, if you post your plans-lots of talented people here(not me unfortunately) that might be able to suggest smth/see potential, in terms of creating storage, etc

i'm sure you went through it all, having architect and GC, yet still

signature: somebody who also lost her laundry room..:)

Hard to say without knowing what the numbers are. Financially speaking, I think it's rare for remodels to recoup their value. If you're moving in a few years, that's not very long for you to enjoy the updates. Certainly the master suite is more desirable, but not sure that it would pay back better.

I'm in a 1915 bungalow and just spent ~$125K on a kitchen and bath remodel, $91K was just for labor and raw materials (just saying, it's not super big or fancy pants materials). Remodeling in California with permits and proper lead-based paint disposal is expensive, so it's hard for me to imagine doing it in a house I wasn't planning to stay in long term. Hoping you're in a cheaper area than I am!

no, will never recoup of course i totally agree about that. but if already deciding-for their own enjoyment and everyday living-between two options..i think first is a bit more viable..and a bit more enjoyable too

(they might have used asbestos too..just sayin'..))

we abated all our asbestos-gutting the house-since all the family went crazy (we had death from asbestosis in the family, so understandable)..my sister was like "you need to abate it! I'll be afraid to visit you, with small kids!"

ok. love my sister, want her to visit..pay 12k or so abatement, gut the damn house..don't ask..2 years remodeling, adding, loosing laundry lol..long story short-the sister buys a new house(East Coast, Victorian..1901 or smth like that)

Me:

-Oh, what a pretty house! Fine, isn't it?

She(shyly):

-Yes..and you know the inspection found asbestos..but seeing how you guys paid so much and all, we decided just to leave it..

LOL

Thanks for your input. The budget is $25-30K, in Los Angeles. That's about twice what we went into this "wanting" to spend. I'm not expecting to recoup the entire cost, but we're in a rapidly changing neighborhood with rapidly escalating home prices, so it's not totally outside the realm of possibility. It's also possible that we could stay much longer than I think.

We bolted the foundation, restored/replaced the hardwood floors, removed/hid the popcorn ceilings, and widened the bedroom closet doors last year when we moved in. We got off easy on the asbestos, but doubled our costs when we found out all of our gas lines and half our electrical needed to be replaced ASAP. So yeah, I'm worried that our 20% contingency cushion won't cut it this time either.

Option 2 opens onto the laundry alcove that is directly off the kitchen. I agree, it's not ideal. It is also more limiting in terms of potential future projects like a kitchen remodel. I'm really leaning toward the master suite.

Additional storage will come from a built-in bench in the dining room window bay, custom surrounds for the laundry and refrigerator, and--who am I kidding?--probably a larger shed as well. Never buy a house without a garage.

Well, appreciation is something else. Crazy things can happen just because. We sold our abroad property for almost as triple a price we bought it..just seven years before we sold? We didn't do any remodel. On the contrary-we moved into a great impeccable house, had to leave it pretty soon (job transfer), rented it out..renters did everything to ruin it..seeing as we stay here for now and all, and tired of this long distance renting, we sold it as is(because who can handle remodel from across the ocean? I could hardly handle this one)..and really, all just because the market there went completely berserk.

I think you're right to lean toward master suite, and very smart about looking at the bigger picture, potential for future tweaks, remodels, and stuff. And yes, nobody knows when he moves. or stays, for that matter.

(I don't know whether it'd sound reassuring but gosh, we were so naive when going for that current house.."twice" sounds like music..:) But. You know what-when all said and done-we love it nevertheless. We really love it. And you probably love yours. So here's to that)