One of the best things you can do to make your home more attractive to homebuyers is to do a bathroom remodel. The return on investment is around 70%, which means if you spend $10,000 in your bathroom remodel, the nudge it gives to your home value is about $7,000.
That sounds sweet. Even if you just want to make your bathroom more comfortable for your own use and have no plans of selling your home, this bears thinking about.
However, just because you decide to remodel your bathroom, it does not mean you will get the most out of it. Not all bathroom remodeling projects go well, especially if you are “winging it.” You need to plan for bathroom remodeling success, and many people are not good at doing that. Here are some tips to help you get there.
Work with the space
You need to consider first how much space you have available for your bathroom remodel. You can do quite many improvements even with a small bathroom, but you must work with the available space, unless you can knock down a couple of walls.
To keep your remodel within the bounds of reality, decide on the extent of the changes you want and can afford to make. Even if you can expand the space, you must be ready for the costs involved in doing so. Making a bathroom bigger typically means major changes to the existing floor, walls, plumbing, and electrical work. If you have a limited budget, you should work with the space you have.
Consider making changes such as putting in a bathroom vanity top, putting in cabinets for more storage space, replacing a bathtub with a shower, or changing the layout to create a bit more space. If you are uncertain what to do, you can get some advice from an experienced remodeler on how to make the most of your available space.
Get inspired
If selling your home is the primary reason for the bathroom remodel, then you should look around for inspiration. Specifically, you should look to your immediate neighborhood to see how your home can stand out.
Redesigning your bathroom to make it more attractive can also go a long way. You can get inspiration from your neighbors by choosing bathrooms you like.
Additionally, you can go the extra mile. Bathrooms are a favorite with many homebuyers, so you want your bathrooms to be something special. If you live in a neighborhood where most of the homes have one bathroom, adding an extra one, even a small one, can make your home highly desirable. If your neighbors have bathtubs, you might want to put in a nice shower.
Think long-term
In most cases, good bathroom designs will depend on the user. If you are planning to sell your home anytime soon, you should choose a design that is likely to appeal to homebuyers. This means choosing neutral colors and clean lines and avoiding making a personal statement. This gives prospective buyers an opportunity to project their own sense of style.
On the other hand, if you plan to stay in the home for a few years still, go ahead and consult your personal preferences when deciding on the design. You should be comfortable in your own home, no matter how outdated or wacky some people might think your design is.
Make a realistic budget
Once you have made some rough plans for your bathroom remodel, the next step is to make a realistic budget. You want to put a limit on your spending, or you will find yourself seriously overextended, and you might not even be able to complete it because you ran out of money.
You should create a budget for major expenses in your planned remodel. Generally, you should choose the most durable toilets, faucets, vanity tops, and cabinets possible with your budget because you will use them regularly. This does not always mean the most expensive, though. Check reviews and use your judgment before making your choices.
If a major remodel is out of the question, dedicate your budget to addressing one or two major changes you need to make. For example, if you have leaking pipes, do those first. If you have a big issue with storage, prioritize putting in good-quality cabinets over anything else. You can always put in a nice shower or heated floors later.
It is also important to be ready for unexpected expenses when making your budget. This could be problems with mold, asbestos, or structural weaknesses. Generally, you should allocate about 10% for these unplanned costs.
Make comparisons
Some people with some DIY experience thinks they can probably tackle some projects in bathroom remodeling, and they would be right. If you are just repainting the walls, putting in a vanity, or changing the sink, you can probably handle that on your own. A major remodel is another thing entirely, so you should probably get in touch with remodeling companies in your area.
If you do plan to get a contractor, do not commit to the first one that gives you a quote. They can make it sound so attractive, but if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You can often get quotes without charge, so go through as many as you can before starting to narrow it down.
Take time to compare the quotes and estimates you get, and check on the website and reputation of the likeliest candidates. You want a licensed contractor with a few years’ experience in the business. Commit to one only when you are comfortable that you have done your due diligence.
Conclusion
You can make a success of your bathroom remodel if you make the time and take the effort to plan it out. These tips should help you get started.
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