adding a bathroom and a fireplace

as for shared baths, as nice as you try to make them, you can't change the fact that they are shared.  you can't predict how guests will behave or what their needs will be.  some of the sharers will do their business and get in and get out, others will stay in there putting on makeup and fussing with their hair and whatever, while another guest knocks and is told 'just a minute' and waits and waits just to use the toilet. 

i had blow dryers and mirrors with one side magnifying in each guestroom with a chair and tabletop space, whether they had a private bathroom or not, for hair and makeup .. it helped a little.

as a guest, i went in after one man who was in there forever and his toenail clippings were all over the floor and the closed toilet seat, shaving cream and whiskers in the sink, toothpaste on the hand towel, dirty clothes in a heap on the floor.  thanks a lot.  i would never have left a mess like that for some other guest who i was sharing a bathroom with! ... nor for a chambermaid to encounter either. 

I think it is the faff of it. If you get up do you pack up your change of clothes and dash across in your PJ's or dress dash across and then wash and then put your clothes back on (English people will not dash in just a robe) etc it is a palava it is just ease of use. And one chap on 3 in a bed said it and I am trying not to be vulgar he said he couldn't go for a poo as he was worried it would smell for the next person and that he couldn't relax in case someone else wanted in. I would feel that I had to rush so as not to hold up the other people and that wouldn't add to my holiday/relaxing experience.

 Detached bath is still the same thing as shared, people going in and out of their rooms, opening and closing doors at all hours.  That is me, when I stay at a place with a shared hall bath or detached I hear the others going in and out and doors closing, locks turning etc.  

Wow.. 12 rooms! I don't know If I could do that many! We have 3 and its just right! Of course its just me and DH and we both also still work "real paying" jobs!

I love shopping for the "right" piece of furniture too! I'm already looking for the "right" VIctorian sink and vanity for the bathroom!

I think it is probably the same in the USA as in the UK if you say private bathroom not ensuite they cannot compute this. We are trying to figure out how to widen the landing on the top floor landing so we can make the two single rooms ensuite but it will take a ton of mess and building work to do as we would have to move the hot water tank up into the loft and building work on the landing to extend it out over the stairwell (this is how our neighbour did it looks really good but he was gutting his place so a bit different) I think most people assume everywhere is insuite now adays unless you point it out to them. I had one chap who must of asked me if his bathroom was shared 3 times during my showing him to his room.

As always there will be all viewpoints on this forum. Unless you are operating a hostel you will be hard pressed to find people who want to share a bath.  If the price is $45 then you would have some folks who don't mind sharing, in a recreation area or such.

Again getting back to price point, a shared bath should not be a little less than a private bath, it should be a lot less.   My opinion.  But I would stay at a hotel before sharing a bath.  BUT...Even in a hotel if our family of four is in one room while traveling, it is too many for that bathroom, TOO MANY!   Think about the times you shared a bath with your family either growing up or now?  Is it fair to the guests for them to not bathe or otherwise as they normally would in fear of other guests walking in right behind them?

If you must...

In the least, having a separate toilet FROM the bathroom, solves 65% of those issues. This is how it is overseas, one reason many don't mind a shared bath as much o/s, the bathroom is a bathroom, the toilet is on it's own in another small room.

Having a sink in the room, solves another 20% of those issues.

I think your guests answered the question very nicely for you. WIth your new website getting more callers, you're really seeing what the issues could be.

It took me 10 YEARS to convince DH to sign the loan papers for the private bath. ABSOLUTELY do the bathroom. Fireplace is a nice if you can (it WILL book the room and an even higher price for a room w/fireplace) but would make the bathroom a MUST and fireplace a nice. W the private bath - occupancy AND revenues went up a LOT.

With 3/w shared I would say, "I know it is a disappointment, but no streakers are allowed - there are robes in the closets in each room." Then it got to the point people had no idea what I was talking about. Streakers? That line DID get me bookings though.

I could have made the original bathroom into 2 small bathrooms but chose to keep it a very large shared. It is priced $34 less than the private bath which still gets booked first although it is offered as a guaranteed private detached for an extra $30 (I dfo not rent the 3rd room then). At shared rate the other room is up for rent.

Edited to add: I never had a worry w/shared bath then or now. It has a deadbolt lock and I have the ONLY keys.

 Private baths all the way...no turning back. It is 2010 guests expect a private bath or they will stay at a hotel where all the baths are private.

ABSOLUTELY YES! You can never go wrong with adding a private bath. Adding a fireplace is also great for ambiance. Not woodburning..I would probably go with an electric one so that they could still experience the flame and romantic atmosphere without the heat during summer months. And you wouldn't have to worry about them running the air conditioner while a gas fireplace was running.   GOod luck..go for it!

Oh my gosh, yes!  Congratulations!  Not only will that bathroom pay for itself in a matter of months, the stress that you probably had worrying about guests sharing a bath will be gone!  That's worth the money right there! 

YES! YES! YESSSS!!!!! Absolutely worth it! With the increase in room rate and the increase in bookings, you will make your investment back quickly.

If I could add working fireplaces to my rooms I would definitely do it. And in this day and age everyone wants a private bath so yes, I think you'll be very happy with the upgrades if you decide to make them.

yes, i do!  the owner got her investment back, and then some, the first year. 

speaking from experience, we added big showers to 1/2 baths in two rooms ... so they went from sink and toilet and having to share shower in the hall bathroom, to private bath (no room for tub).  just in those two rooms, occupancy jumped ... also, we had a nice room with water view but no bathroom ... converted the closet and some more room space to a private bathroom (again, no room for tub) and that room occupancy jumped as well. 

being able to offer 5 rooms with private baths made SUCH a difference.  i did not have to 'sell' those rooms, people booked them.  i was totally honest about the size of the rooms because we lost room space ... and those rooms booked up solid.  a nice, bigger room with two windows, and 'private' bathroom in hall next to the room was my plague room ... people didn't want that room and i had to price it quite a bit lower to get the 'bargain hunters'. 

i put those little dimplex stoves in the two biggest rooms and people LOVED them.  fireplace means romance for a lot of people.  they have the option to just look like fire (and they do look real) or to throw heat.   the only thing missing was a crackling sound.