Why are you Upgrading?

It is common knowledge that bringing an ugly or “run down” looking bathing area up to modern standards is money well spent. As a homeowner, you can expect to recoup almost all the money paid for your bathroom improvements if you did the work yourself. It should be noted however that you’ll probably only get back about forty percent of your investment if you hire a contractor to do the work for you. Mind you, the reason for your bath’s reconstruction is also a determining factor of your final cost.

If your goal is to flip your home quickly, then in all likelihood your renovations will help sell your home more swiftly as you would be willing to go for the lower return just to make the sale. Duly noted, upgrading your master bath just makes more sense than splurging on a new powder room.

Another thing to consider is if you only have one family washroom in the entire house, a sensible upgrade would be to remodel it to accommodate two or more people by providing double sinks and a separate shower enclosure and soaking tub.

Go For Mass Appeal

Sometimes homeowners forget when evaluating their space for bath renovations that what they like may not be what other people enjoy, therefore when improving upon an existing lavatory you must ensure that your improvements appeal to potential home buyers. Yes, play it safe with colors and textures. While a clinical white on white bathing facility might come to mind when you think of mass appeal, nobody wants to be reminded of going to a hospital.

Add subdued color with a hint of accent colors to add appeal. Tune down your design bravo, keep your design elements simple and organized. Fixtures should also be modern and streamlined to appeal to those that want an updated contemporary look.

Home buyers can appreciate quality. Purchase washroom fixtures that are made from quality materials, that not only look good but can also withstand the rigors of everyday usage.

A special note here: if you plan on doing any of the details yourself, make sure you have an eye for craftsmanship, never attempt to do the work yourself unless you can offer professional looking workmanship. Believe it or not, people may not be able to see the flaws in your work but can intuitively sense if they are in the presence of true artistry.

A Big No, No!

On their quest to sell their home some homeowners go all out by installing unnecessary trendy products or by trying to put too much into the limited space in their bathroom. This is a big no, no. You must plan your bath transformation to fit the rest of your house. If your lavatory seems out of place, with the spatial or design orientation of your home then potential buyers will be turned off by the inconsistencies.

Remember that any design elements that do not blend into the fundamental style and personality of your home will take away from its overall appeal. For example a classical styled bath in a rustic looking home will look out of place. Essentially your goal is to have up-to-date modern bathroom amenities while at the same time staying true to the traditional temperament of your home.

To stay on top of what is popular in bathrooms, your local real-estate agent can be a great help. You can ask simple questions like what amenities home buyers expect in a powder room, how many grooming spaces they want in a home your size and what are popular styles.

Don’t make the mistake of grabbing the first Better Homes and Garden magazine off the racks, going to the bathroom section and remodeling your existing bath based upon the first design that appeals to you. Find out what the local market wants and then remodel your bathing space for comfort and convenience.

Can You Recoup Your Investment in the Final Sale?

Getting your money back on your remodeling cost when you sell your home should be at the back of your mind when you are coming up with your budget. You may consider getting a small home improvement loan if you can recoup your cost in the fin[...]