Over the course of two years, homeowners have reaped the benefits of a strong sellers market. Even still, real estate insights for 2022 reveals that the market will most likely continue to favor sellers for the first six months. They go on to predict that the market should level out in the second half as interest rates begin to increase.
If you’ve been thinking about selling your house, now’s the time to do it; and if you want to maximize your home’s earning potential, consider a bathroom renovation. The following projects can make a world of a difference in how your bathroom looks and feels, but they also have the highest return on investment when you sell.
Let’s take a look at the bathroom reno ideas with the highest ROI.
1. Bathtub
Homeowners often think that a luxury shower is the end-all-be-all in terms of bathroom upgrades. After all, who wouldn’t love to step into a hot shower that feels like you’re in a four star hotel? A rainfall shower head, beautiful stone tiles, and all the other fancy details are lovely, don’t get us wrong, but if you’re trying to appeal to the broadest pool of buyers, a new bathroom tub is the way to go. Families, especially with small children, aren’t going to want to try and bathe their kids in a huge shower stall – they want a bathtub!
2. Vanity
If you were to look online or at any home improvement store for vanities, you’re going to find a lot of options! Unfortunately, not all vanities are desirable. When you’re replacing the vanity in your bathroom, you should consider a vanity that has plenty of counter space and storage space. If the renovation is taking place in the master bathroom, consider a vanity with two sinks, as they’re quite popular among couples. If you’re redoing a half-bath or a guest bath, a pedestal sink will work if you have limited space.
3. Flooring
Replacing the flooring in the bathroom can make a huge difference in how the space looks. You could go from tiny black and white tiles circa 1960s and upgrade to a beautiful travertine tile with a heating element underneath so that when you step out of the shower, the floor is nice and toasty. Of course, if you’re on a budget, ceramic or porcelain tile is an excellent option too! Plus, you can really make the tile pop by using a dark grout instead of white.
4. Waterproofing
You’d think that the bathroom would be waterproofed from the very start, but it’s not – or it’s not waterproofed very well. When you’re renovating your bathroom, you can ask your contractor about the different ways you can protect your bathroom (and home) from any potential flooding caused by a burst pipe or an overflowing tub, sink, or toilet.
5. Universal design
Universal design in the bathroom is intended to make the space safe and accessible for anyone with disabilities or health conditions. These design elements can include (but certainly not limited to):
- Storage space near the toilet and bathing area that is easy to access
- Technology that helps a homeowner regulate things like water temperature, lighting, etc.
- Install taller toilets to reduce strain on the knees – excellent for wheelchair-bound folks
- Install wider doors or pocket doors to improve wheelchair accessibility
- Choose hardware and accessories for those with dexterity issues:
- Use handles instead of knobs on cabinets
- Single-lever faucets
- Use towel hooks instead of bars
A newly redone bathroom has that wow-factor
As a homeowner, we have to be careful about the renovation projects that we do – especially if we’re trying to sell our homes. Not everyone is going to fall in love with your choices and sometimes you’ll spend more on a project than the value it will add once it’s complete. However, these are five great projects to start off with!
