How To Increase Your Home's Value With A Bathroom Renovation

by Grace Motley

Many home buyers are increasingly picky about the bathrooms in their home purchases. Outdated bathrooms in need of complete remodels are deal-breakers for many buyers, and even those people willing to put in a little work may consider an updated bathroom to be a great selling point. There are a few tips and tricks to getting the biggest bang for your buck on bathroom remodels, though, and here are a few of them.

Go Green or Go Home

Eco-awareness is a growing movement. More home buyers than ever before are concerned with their home's energy and water consumption. If you're looking to score points with virtually any generation and income level, starting with environmentally friendly bathroom upgrades is a great idea.

How do you know when a faucet or shower head is environmentally friendly? Thankfully, the EPA has made that process a whole lot easier with their WaterSense label. WaterSense is a government-sponsored third party label, which means that neither the EPA nor the product's manufacturer is the certifying party, guaranteeing trustworthy labels. In order to meet WaterSense certification criteria a faucet, shower head or toilet needs to use at least 20% less water than other products without compromising performance. That keeps you from offending the sensibilities of buyers who value performance over green status while maintaining the green label for all other buyers.

Shoot for a Neutral but Eye Catching Style

If you've ever watched an episode of House Hunters on HGTV, you know that buyers need to be able to see themselves adding their own personal touches to the bathroom without making enormous changes to the layout, fixtures and finishes. That can mean adding in stylish pieces that may not necessary strike your fancy. Maybe you're a fan of seashell sinks, or you would love a pink tile surround for your bath tub. If you're looking to add value for future buyers, avoid these instincts! Instead, express your style in bold (but still neutral) color choices, like a medium-hued blue accent wall, and stick with sleek fixtures in classic materials like porcelain, brushed nickle or stainless steel. Remember, if it will take a lot of time, energy, or money to replace it, go with neutral choices.

Spring for High-End Finishes

Maybe you don't care a whole lot about the shower head or countertops, but you can bet many buyers will. Raindrop shower heads come in water conserving varieties, and are quite popular with buyers. Installing a larger-than-average tub can be a great selling point as well. As for countertops, you'll have more options than you might know what to do with. You'll probably want to keep it neutral, stylish, and eco-friendly. Here are a few of your best bets.

  • Finished concrete. This material can be stained to resemble the look of many of the most popular materials, like quartz and granite, but when sourced locally it has a fraction of the environmental cost. It rarely requires any replacement or maintenance, making it one of the most durable choices.
  • Recycled paper. Believe it or not, post-consumer paper can be added to resins to create a sustainable, durable countertop.
  • Recycled glass. These countertops come in part-cement and fully glass varieties. Adding cement makes the material more durable and opaque, while fully glass countertops will have a semi-transparent, ethereal glow. Buyers will probably have not seen many of these countertops, which could add a "wow factor" to your bathroom, making it stand out.

If you're gearing up for a bathroom remodel and plan to ever sell your home, you're now better equipped to make the best possible choices regarding finishes and style. Taking the time to make smart choices when it comes to bathroom accessories and furnishings will help guarantee a return on your bathroom remodel investment. 

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