If you’re looking for the greatest sale price return on investment on your renovations, the place to look is your bathroom! If your home has only one bathroom, you can recoup much or all of your investment by adding another one. According to estimates provided by the National Association of Realtors, a bathroom remodel will recoup at least the amount you’ve put into bathroom renovations.
Remodeling Your Bathroom Will Make You $$$
Home & Garden Television estimates that the return on investment on bathroom renovation spending is 80-130%. To find room in your house for an extra bathroom, look at extra rooms or under underutilized spaces. Consider areas such as closets or spaces under the stairs too. If you want a half-bath you need at least 18 square feet. If you want a full bath, including a standard shower, you need at least 30 square feet. If you want a bathtub, make sure you have at least 35 square feet to work with for a bathroom addition.
While sinking $10,000 into average bathroom remodeling, with up to $30,000 for more upscale renovations (the national averages according to Remodeling Magazine) into a bathroom may seem like an extravagant expense when trying to sell your home, the most high-traffic part of your home space (what day don’t you use the bathroom?) is very important to the buyers decision-making process and subsequently your home’s value. An immaculate modern bathroom communicates consciously and subconsciously to the comfort, style comfort , and — most important to the seller of the home — the value that rest of the home contains. Nothing is more of a turn-off to a prospective buyer than an outdated, dysfunctional bathroom. Especially considering the high costs and headaches associated to mitigate water damage and mold growth.
Determining your budget beforehand (in terms of both money and time) is a sound way to ensure that your bathroom renovations don’t get out of hand. For smaller budgets, you may be limited solely to cosmetic improvements, such as updated fixtures or a new sink. Larger budgets can accommodate makeovers that substantially increase the home’s value, like a larger shower, new windows, and artisanal tiling.
Of course, contributing your own “sweat equity” to your homes renovations can save you money, so determine which projects are best left to professional contractors versus the ones you can successfully handle. If you decide to hire a contractor, be sure to have a well thought-out plan in place and do not deviate from it. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) recommends developing a six-month plan to ensure that things go smoothly, as a major bathroom renovation will last between two and three months on average. Be forewarned: as the most renovation projects, bathroom costs and expectations can quickly get out of hand, especially when homeowners are eager to sell their homes. That said, let’s look at various aspects of the bathroom and see what types of renovations can add more value to your home.
Bathtubs Are Key!
Choosing the right bathtub for your master bathroom is worth some careful consideration. Some home buyers feel that a bathtub takes up too much space, while others make it a focal point of their relaxation. Some buyers prefer or need accessibility (i.e. mobility-impaired individuals), and for them a bathtub may be a deal-breaker. For those that prefer elegance, a claw-foot tub may be appealing. Having a bathtub in one bathroom, and a shower in a second, is a solution to suit all needs. Ensure that any bathtub you select matches the overall theme of the room (you would not install a Victorian claw-foot tub in a modern-era themed bath).
Sinks and Countertops
One way to add value to your bathroom is to focus on the countertops and the sink. A popular trend is to invest in a stone (granite or marble) countertop. Typically, bathroom countertops tend to be smaller than kitchen counters, so you can spend a significantly smaller amount of money and still obtain a desirable spa-like quality. One strategy for saving money and adding value is to purchase a slab that has imperfections. If you make sure that the imperfections are masked by the sink cut-outs, you get the boast both worlds without having to pay the higher price of a flawless slab.
It also helps to think creatively. One common trend for DIY’ers is to take an old dresser and use it as a pedestal to mount the sink on top or recess the sink into the top of the dresser. This creates an elegant solution and is very efficient if you’re struggling to find adequate cabinet space to fit the look of your bathroom.
Don’t forget to update the faucet as well. Attractive metals like stainless steel or polished nickel can bring some extra “oomph” to your bathroom. However, be sure that the hardware matches the faucets, or your bathroom might have a hodgepodge feel that may ward off more finicky buyers. Finally, to make your bathroom more attractive to new couples, create multiple sinks for his and her.
Cabinets & Storage
Bathrooms offer a challenge for homeowners in terms of storage. After installing a sink, bathtub, toilet, and shower, there still needs to be somewhere to store hygiene items and towels. In addition, these storage solutions must be aesthetically-pleasing to potential homebuyers, so it can be a balancing act to make sufficient space without becoming unattractive or overly utilitarian. However, there are solutions to make the most of available space:
- Vertical: Most bathrooms don’t utilize their upper wall space, leaving the spaces barren. To remedy this, try installing multi-tiered shelving units in strategic places, with towels within easy reach of the bath/shower. Alternatively, recessed alcoves between wall studs can create useful spaces for holding smaller items.
- Movable: Using baskets or hampers for items can make the most of spaces where cabinets cannot fit. Be sure these movable editions match the decor of the bathroom, even if they are not included with the sale of the house.
As for the cabinets, be sure that the materials are up-to-date and not reflective of short-lived trends, as these can work against the seller when they fall out of favor. Make sure that the colors of the cabinets are neutral and are made of moisture resistant wood appropriate for the bathroom.
Shower
An attractive and functional shower is a great way to attract homebuyers who may imagine luxurious and refreshing daily rituals when they purchased the home. Frameless-glass shower enclosures enhanced the spa-like feel of the atmosphere, match just about any color scheme , and are more appealing than flimsy plastic enclosures. Don’t forget to consider who will be purchasing your home when renovating your shower. There are various options in the market, but it helps to update the shower heads in accordance with the type of home buyers you’d like to appeal to. For potential owners under the age of 45, larger and/or multiple shower heads are a go-to choice. For older home buyers, hand showers that can assist seated individuals may be best. Seating also plays a factor for the elderly and infirmed, who prefer some balance against water-flow when showering and somewhere to sit for safety reasons.
Tile
Bathroom tile can be one of the more expensive features to renovate, so it pays to be deliberate in your choices. One smart way to save money is to limit tile strategically, focusing only on specific area of the floor instead of the entire floor (e.g. inside the shower stall).
Another clever trick is to use the expensive tile as an accent, mixing it in with less expensive tile to save money, but also highlight the costlier tile with contrast. Because of the cost, you may want to align your renovations in accordance with the tile’s color or design attributes . While installing a heated bathroom floor is a nice touch, it will not provide much if any of an ROI. And tearing up your floor can be needlessly expensive and time-consuming.
Bathroom Ventilation
There’s more to remodeling your bathroom than meets the eye. While it may be nice to have a window to open after a steamy shower, this is an old solution. The focus on modern-day living is automation and efficiency. If your bathroom does not have a modern ventilation system, consider installing one as a top priority.
Moisture from excess humidity fogs mirrors, makes the floors especially slippery, and creates a breeding ground for mildew and mold. Having moisture under control is vital to ensure that not only are physical hazards minimized (e.g. slipping on a wet title), but also the quality of the air and the damage that can result from mold and rot.
Make sure that the ventilation system exhausts air to the outside of the home, not the space between the joists of the ceiling, attic, or other interior space.
Consider ventilation systems in the market that contain features such as quiet exhaust fans and humidity-sensitive switches that automatically activate when moisture build-up in the air reaches a certain threshold.
Lighting
One way to spruce up your bathroom at a fraction of the cost of more labor-intensive renovations is to look at how your bathroom is lit. Lighting around your vanity mirrors can bring a luxurious feel to everyday grooming.
Adjustable lighting for soaking in the tub can create a relaxing atmosphere to the bathroom as well. Some lighting fixtures offer heat lamps that can create a mini-sauna for the bathroom that works in conjunction with your ventilation systems.
As a rule, illuminating dark spaces an inadequate lighting adds value for potential home buyers.
Paint
Like lighting, one of the more inexpensive and effective ways to spruce up your bathroom is to invest in a few cans of fresh paint. Pay careful attention to how you paint if you choose to go DYI, however; attention to detail is critical and a few blobs of paint on the tub, sink, and so forth can undermine the improvements you’ve made. Also be sure to find a high-quality, mold-resistant paint that can ward off mold growth, and don’t forget to paint the ceiling, where hard to clean surfaces can be breeding grounds for mold and mildew.
Updating Fixtures
The little details do matter, especially under the scrutiny of those who view your home with an eye to buying it. This includes the light fixtures, doorknobs, towel racks, cabinet handles and so forth, all which can rust degrade from constant use and moist atmosphere.
Caulk and Grout
Like a fresh coat of paint, paying attention to the fine details can bring a new look to your bathroom at a minimal cost. Cleaning grout may be tedious but restoring its original hue can make the surrounding elements “pop.”
The same goes for caulk — a tube of caulk is inexpensive. A fresh application of caulk, especially clear or matching white colors, not only brings out other elements, but also prevents moisture from eroding the structure of the bathroom.
Going Green
No, I’m not talking about painting everything in your bathroom green, unless you really want to. I’m referring to the trend of making your bathroom more environmentally friendly. More and more home buyers are looking to find homes that feature ethically- sourced materials and conservative resources (e.g. water, power). These include:
- Low flow sinks, toilets, and shower heads: They can typically be found for either the same cost or even less than traditional models.
- Modern day “smart devices:” Google Home, Alexa, and Siri will all be happy to help you automate your home. Digitally controlled thermostats help regulate the temperature of your home, even when your away. Modern light bulbs adjust the amount of light based on the amount of daylight or if an occupant has entered or exited the room. Getting off the grid with solar power lowers the cost of keeping many bathroom (and kitchen) appliances going!
- Purchasing used or repurposed materials: Nothing is greener than recycling old materials (like a vintage claw foot bathtub) as you reduce consumption. Thrift stores often have an assortment of used/reclaimed furnishings that not only have vintage appeal, but also sell well below the price point of similar types of fixtures purchased new.
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