I'm in the process of getting quotes for a loft conversion in our semi-detached bungalow. At some point we're going to have to make the decision about whether to go ahead with it, so I'd appreciate any advice.

We have what the Estate Agents describe as a 2/3 bedroom semi-detached bungalow, where one of the bedrooms really needs to be used as a dining room if you want to have enough space for more than a tiny table or breakfast bar (the house was built in the 1950's when I assume people had far less kitchen equipment and therefore more room in the kitchen for a table).

With a baby on the way we could really do with some extra space, but to fit in a conversion we would need to put the stairs in what is currently the largest bedroom - this would then become the dining room. So we would end up with a good size lounge and separate dining room, and a large single and small double bedroom downstairs. The main bedroom would be in the converted loft but there isn't really room for an ensuite (and we don't particularly want one).

I think this layout would work for us and probably give us more space than in many new 3 bedroom houses. We live on a nice residential street (where quite a few houses have had this conversion done) which is more pleasant than the locations of "proper" 3 bedroom houses in the area - 80's (bit tatty) or 90's (crammed in) estates and the main road. I'm confident that having the conversion done would be cheaper and more convenient than moving right now, but I am a little concerned that it could make the house harder to sell in the future. Also reading around about the "value" added to a house with a loft conversion I've seen everything from "it will add no value" to "you will definitely get back the cost of the conversion".

Sorry for such a long a rambling post, but any advice appreciated! Also I'd like to point out that I don't have anything against modern estates, it's just the ones around here aren't so nice!

We more than got back the cost of our loft conversion, but it may depend on the area, and the quality of the work.

Personally I would not put in a bedroom without a bathroom on the same floor (we put in an ensuite), nor would I buy a property which lacked that (unless easy to rectify). I rented such a property as a student, and my days of trailing downstairs to the bog in the middle of the night are long gone.

I don't know if a loft conv with no 'facilities' (even if just a loo and sink) would be acceptable to most punters in your target market. Probably best to ask a couple of local EAs what they think.

Thanks velvet. I think an ensuite loo and sink could be squeezed in above the existing bathroom without too much trouble, although we would prefer the extra storage space and one fewer loo to clean! I'll check with the loft companies how difficult/expensive it would be to install at a later date.

We are about to do a loft conversion in the summer. We are adding two bedrooms and a bathroom to our semi-detached bungalow. We more than expect to get the value back, but are not planning on going anywhere for a while.

(When my baby was on the way I was at the loo so often in the night that I could not have contemplated going to a different floor. I would have taken up residence on the sofa!)