Remodeling Bathrooms for Resale – Sell Your House Faster

The Spring/Summer real estate season is upon us, and many wonder if a bathroom remodel is a good idea to prepare your home for resale. It’s widely known that kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. A buyer needs to picture themselves living in the house without making major improvements, and a grubby bathroom makes it hard for them to imagine that. There is no doubt a bathroom remodel will help sell a home faster, but what type of improvements will give you the best return for your dollar?

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  Consider how long you will be living in the home before you put it on the market. If you will be staying for a while, consider upgrades that you can enjoy such as a steam shower, a jetted tub, or radiant floor heating. If you will be selling quickly, you will get the most bang for your buck if you stick to the basics, while giving everything a fresh, updated look.
• Choose neutral finishes that appeal to a wide range of tastes. White, beige, brown, and gray are great color choices for bathroom tile, countertops, and wall paint. You can use decorative accents such as towels, rugs, and curtains if you must add a pop of color.
• Consider minor layout changes but nothing that requires major plumbing changes. For example, a new trend is to remove small bathtub/shower combos and replace with large, airy walk-in showers.

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  Invest in quality craftsmanship. Find a good contractor with a track record of happy customers. Buyers will notice sub-par craftsmanship such as crooked tile, cracked grout, and messy caulk, and they will wonder what other corners have been cut. If necessary, choose more modest finishes and invest in quality installation.
• Lastly, while we usually recommend remodeling the entire bathroom at once for a seamless upgrade, if some parts of your bathroom are in decent shape, you may save money by making only minor upgrades. Tearing out existing tile is typically one of the most costly parts of a remodel once you account for demo, materials, and labor, so keep that in place if possible. Consider changing out the countertop and refreshing cabinet hardware, lighting, faucets, and towel bars. Old cabinets can be painted for a new look. Switching out your toilets (or even just toilet seats) can make a big difference. Refresh worn vinyl flooring with new, modest tile.