As a homeowner, you can maintain your property’s value by conducting regular maintenance and repairs. But did you know that you could even increase the value by completing remodeling and renovation projects?
Bathroom upgrades boost the value of any home. As East Bay PM points out, buyers love beautiful bathrooms and are willing to pay a premium for enhanced functionality and aesthetics. Not all bathroom improvements have the same effect on your home’s value, though.
In this article, we’ll go over the basics of bathroom upgrades and see what type of projects have the best return on investment. Ultimately, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge to grow your home value by just upgrading your bathroom.
Why should you upgrade your bathroom?
Bathroom remodels benefit your home’s value. Many studies have been conducted on finding out the return on investment of various home upgrades. A midrange bathroom upgrade could get you a return of up to 70%.
Even minor cosmetic touches make a difference.
And there are cases when bathrooms represent the final selling point. Yes, all else equal, buyers may base their final decision on the aesthetics, functionality, and comfort of your bathroom.
Do bathroom upgrades affect the joy score?
Since dollars and cents can’t always adequately represent subjective value, the joy score was created to reflect the homeowner’s innate enjoyment and satisfaction.
According to the NAR, bathroom renovation has a joy score of 9.6 on a scale of one to ten. This holds true for both professional and DIY bathroom remodeling projects.
Which bathroom upgrades increase your home’s value the most?
Let’s take a look at concrete examples of bathroom upgrades that are bound to increase your home’s value.
- Flooring
Any upgrade to your bathroom flooring can make a dramatic difference. While it’s not too expensive, the final result can provide an exceptionally fresh look to the room.
The best approach is installing ceramic or porcelain tile. These materials are durable and waterproof. That’s exactly what you want to have in your bathroom. Plus, ceramics and porcelain are not expensive materials.
For a touch of exceptional comfort, you could make the floors heated. Many buyers love the idea of stepping on a warm floor after a relaxing shower. This is an especially welcome addition in regions with cold winters.
- Vanity
A new vanity is one of the best upgrades you can give to your bathroom. You should make all the vanity updates as a single project. A single design scheme makes a big difference and gives an extra appeal to the final result.
- Energy-efficiency
Sustainability is more than just a buzzword. Many homeowners follow the trend of making their properties greener and more energy-efficient. Since bathrooms constitute a major use of resources in any home, you could boost your home’s resale value when making it more sustainable.
In practical terms, this means optimizing your sink, shower, and toilet for a lesser flow of water. This effectively cuts the daily water use, which is going to be reflected on your water bill as well.
- Cabinets
Whether you choose to reface your cabinets or just update the hardware, this is an area of your bathroom that won’t go unnoticed for prospective buyers. Aim to give your cabinets a clean and modern look. Doing this will definitely boost the value of your bathroom.
- Plumbing fixtures
Old fixtures make your bathroom feel outdated. Switching your faucets and showerheads won’t result in huge expenses. But the sparkling new fixtures will surely make your bathroom look fresher than ever.
- Walk-in shower
Walk-in showers grow in popularity. Consider replacing your old bathtub with a walk-in shower in the master bathroom. You should still have tubs in other bathrooms, though. That’s because getting rid of all your tubs could backfire and decrease your home’s value.
In a nutshell: High-Value Bathroom Upgrades
Bathroom upgrades have the potential to strengthen your home’s value. Even conducting minor changes for a fresher, modern look may result in a considerable return on investment.
Here are the top bathroom upgrades you should consider:
- Make your bathroom green and energy-efficient
- Switch the old plumbing fixtures for new ones
- Replace your master bathroom tub with a walk-in shower
- Install a completely new flooring for a fresh look
- Reface your cabinets and update the hardware
- Upgrade bathroom vanity by using a single design scheme