No matter where you live, an apartment, a house or a villa, at some point you will want to renovate your residence. Most people start with their kitchen and bathroom and that’s because they know that great value will be added to their home if they decide to sell later on. In this article we’re going to focus on the best bathroom renovations that you can do, to help you get the most out of your efforts and to increase the value of your house.
First of all, you must ensure that you have a great-thought-out renovation plan which implies that you are aware of the increased value of your property that will come after renovating the bathroom. In a happy scenario, you will be able to recuperate up to 70% of the renovation costs, as long as you assess the value of your home correctly by contacting a good real estate agent who will be able to accurately estimate this for you. You never want to spend $30.000 on renovating your bathroom, if, for example, the average home price in your region is $180.000. Secondly, after you decided how much you are willing to invest, you should always spend your money wisely by doing a little bit of research to find the best items to use in your bathroom. Of course, these shouldn’t be cheap things, but they should come at a reasonable price and build to last.
Size matters
One thing that you must always remember is that everyone, including you, will always love to have a big bathroom. Therefore, depending on the current size of it, it’s a good idea to consider expanding it if at the moment it seems to be too small. If you can’t afford to literally expand it, a simple trick that can help you give the appearance of a bigger bathroom is to add a large mirror, and if the layout of the room allows it, at least two large windows. This will give your bathroom an airy feel and it will make it seem larger and more welcoming.
Mind the style
Another thing that you should keep in mind when you start a bathroom renovation, is the fact that if you are indeed looking to add real value to your house, then you would be wise to leave your personal taste aside. In simple terms, this means that your bathroom should look stylish, but neutral. Don’t start painting the walls blue or orange if these are your favorite colors. Instead, keep everything simple so that potential buyers will have room to decorate the bathroom as they see fit.
Make it luxurious
On more thing that you can always do, which is similar to the mirror-trick, is to renovate in such a manner that will make your bathroom look more expensive. Choosing to replace Formica with wood or granite, or swapping out laminate flooring for neutral tile or stone, are great examples of simple things that will add great value to your house if your budget is not that high.
Bathtub adds value
Also, make sure that you are familiar with the current trends, but don’t take it to the extreme. Recently, more and more people look for a bathroom with a walk-in shower, but they will also be grateful if they will have a tub, especially if the potential buyers have children. Therefore, keep in mind that besides having a walk-in shower, a freestanding tub will increase the value of your home and you will have a better chance to sell your property.
Have buyers in mind
While you’re working on renovating the bathroom, try not to forget why you started this in the first place. In the end, you want the value of your home to increase, thus, make sure you don’t forget about the buyer. You could easily get lost and start renovating according to your own personal preferences, therefore, it’s a good idea to make a list of what the majority of the buyers want in today’s world. This can include two separate sinks, one for him and the other one for her, an upgraded shower enclosure and great lighting. Consulting someone who knows the market and knows what the buyers are looking for, is a great way to make sure that you stay on track. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you have to exaggerate. Adding a secondary sink and upgrading the tub and the shower will be enough in most cases without needing to add extra features, such as electronically activated faucets.
Don’t forget about the small stuff
Finally, don’t forget about the little things that will truly bring your bathroom to life. This includes getting new bathroom rugs, new towels, a soap dish, and everything else that a bathroom needs. The key here though is to choose these items carefully. Don’t buy a plastic soap dish for example, but instead, look for one made from stainless steel that has a mirror-polished finish. They’re inexpensive, and they will make your bathroom stand out from the other ones that a buyer will see. As for the rugs, statistics show us that the majority of people choose to get a green or a white one, so therefore, stick with what sells best.
Ask for opinion
Lastly, before listing your house for sale, seek the opinion of your friends and family. Ask them to tell you what they think of your bathroom renovation and if they would love to have one such as yours. Tell them to be objective and as honest as they can because their help is invaluable to you. If they will see something wrong with it, they will be more then happy to tell you.
To make it even easier for you, let’s go over a quick recap:
– Make a good renovation plan.
– Spend your money wisely by researching the best items to use in your bathroom.
– Make the bathroom appear larger by adding big mirrors and windows, or expand it if your budget allows it.
– Leave your personal taste aside and keep your bathroom renovation stylish and neutral.
– Renovate in such a manner that will give the bathroom a more expensive look.
– Know the current trends.
– Have a walk-in shower and a tub as well.
– Get two sinks instead of one.
– Don’t skip on purchasing good quality little things that will complete your bathroom.
– Seek the opinion of your friends and family.
So there you have. No matter if you’re looking to sell your property in the near future or you simply need or want to renovate your bathroom, following the tips from this article will ensure that your house will increase in value.