When you want to add value to your home, it’s because you will one day sell it. Therefore, you want it to sell for the best price you can get.
We all spend a significant portion of our lives in our bathrooms, and for some it may be the only alone time we get in the day. Making the bathroom(s) look and feel clean, modern and luxurious doesn’t mean you have to break the bank but it can have a great positive impact on would be buyers.
In a hot housing market, a bath remodel can be a good investment, often returning more than 100 percent of the cost. So, in an attempt to add value and appeal, what do you remodel and how should you spend?
Getting Bang for Your Buck
In the recent past, the hot must-have items were whirlpool tubs. Now it’s walk-in showers and floor-to-ceiling steam showers. That’s not to say you should pull your bathtub out. Far from it. It’s just that separating them is the way to go now. If there is a walk-in shower with a few bells and whistles AND a standalone tub, people can choose which way they want to luxuriate. Choice is highly valued.
Remodeling can also mean adding a few new touches to reinvent the overall look and feel of the bathroom. This is where pedestal vanities, vessel sinks and waterfall faucets are very appealing.
If you’re on a strict budget, simple things like changing the toilet, countertop, sink, faucet and flooring will also help. There is no doubt that buyers like new stuff.
When in Doubt About the Bathroom, Follow These Simple Tips
• Talk to realtors to find out what bathroom features impress buyers.
• Timeless is timeless. Neutral colors and a look of clean lines are classic and buyers can picture complementing the look with towels and accessories.
• The ‘wow’ factor. Even if you can’t manage a walk-in shower, floor-to-ceiling jets along with a rain-shower head are simple and memorable features. So, too, is under-floor heating. It is amazing how drawn to this people are.
• Mirrors and Lighting. Much of our bathroom time is spent looking at ourselves, so the experience might as well be as positive as we can make it. Think about new mirrors in interesting locations with multiple angles along with modern, practical lighting that is still soft and flattering.
Room Additions: Adding an Extra Bathroom
If your home has only one bathroom, definitely add another and watch the value go up. This is a wise and proven investment. A couple of Florida State University professors conducted a study for the National Association of Realtors and found that adding a bathroom lifted the sale price of a home by 8.7 percent, which was more than twice the value increase of adding a bedroom.
Even adding a small washroom for visitors can make a big difference.
In short, get advice and choose good return-on-investment targets for bathroom remodeling to make your home more valuable.
Greg Nelson is the owner of Nelson Construction & Renovations Inc. He is a Florida State Certified Building Contractor, creating artistry in all areas of design and construction projects. He is a musician, and artist. A husband and father, Greg appreciates all the wonderful elements of family life.
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