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Bathroom Remodeling: The Biggest Bang For Your Buck

We are provided every year with an average cost of of a bathroom remodel from various sources. We are also given the percentage of the cost we recoup compared to the value it added to your home. We must remember these are only averages. By using some cost saving strategies, we can not only save money but increase the value of the home by 100% or even 110% rather than the latest national average 74.6%. The following is a list of cost saving ideas on the most popular bathroom upgrades.

Granite counter-tops are a must have, but if you stick with an inexpensive granite, it could cost half of that beautiful marble yoou saw in the showroom. Here’s an additional tip. Vanities are typically small areas to cover, so head over to your local granite counter top company and ask if they will give you a deal on a remnant left over from a previous job.
Under-mount sinks may be expensive in kitchens but you can pick them up for about $100 each for vanities.
Vanity faucets are also inexpensive. Just buy a nice satin nickel 4″ spread faucet with a simple sleek design.
Want the look of a double mirror over the vanity? You can pick up two 24″x36″ mirrors with beveled edges for about $25 each.
There are some ugly vanity cabinets out there. Replacing them with new ones could cost thousands. Instead, find a good painter that is experienced in painting cabinets and you will save a bundle giving them a new finish.
Don’t forget the cabinet door knobs. The big box home improvement stores sells them in packs of 10 at a huge discount instead of paying double for buying them individually.
Adding all new matching plumbing fixtures from the tub drain, spout, control valve, to the shower head can be pricey, but how about installing just the rain shower head. If your handy, it’s a fairly simple DIY project.
If the shower is dirty and moldy but the tiles aren’t falling off , spruce them up with re-grouting and re-caulking and it will look like a new shower.
Glass doors are a big investment and there is little advice available in that catagory besides stay away of the more expensive frameles glass.
Inexpensive and stylish vanity lights are a must if you have upgraded the entire vanity area. That is a great DIY project which will save you a good chunk of money. Just be sure to put tape over the switches in the off position so nobody walks in and flicks the switch while you are up on a ladder with the bare wires in your hand.
And I saved the most important for last, paint! If the tub and shower are white and you choose to paint your cabinets a light color, it will completely transform the room painting the walls a warm and inviting darker tone. A gallon of the right color paint will be the best investment toward your bathroom remodeling project.

Remodeling Your Bathroom: What’s it Worth?

Remodeling a bathroom is one of the best home improvement investments you can make. It not only presents a high return on investment compared to other areas in your home, but can considerably increase your quality of life.

We have all seen the home improvement shows or heard Realtors talk about the most important and valuable two investments in your house, kitchens and baths. When selling a home they will prove to be the most important deciding factor among prospective buyers, and in turn offer the best return on your investment. More importantly, when you decide to live in your home for a long time, the return on investment can be worth much more than the original cost.

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that roughly $9 billion was spent on bathroom remodels last year. That’s a huge number, but lets take a look at what that means for home owners. The national average cost for a bathroom remodel in the U.S. is $15,899. This investment increases the resale of the house by $11,857, recouping 74.6% of the total cost of the bathroom remodel. Some regions fair better than others when figuring the return on your remodeling dollars. The West-South-Central region (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana) averages 83.4% of your remodeling dollars recouped in the increased value of your home. When looking at individual cities such as Austin, Texas, the average job cost is $13,871 which results in an increase of home value by $12,090 for a total recoup of 87.2% on your bathroom remodeling investment. The bathroom remodel cost of $13,871 minus the increased home value of $12,090 leaves you with a true cost of $1781.

For the home seller’s perspective in Austin, the $1781 difference in cost versus the increase in home value is an investment that could transform your outdated home into a beautifully updated showcase that would distinguish it from the sea of homes currently on the market. In my experience, prospective home buyers are looking for a house that is move-in ready with no work needed. They do not have the vision or the desire to buy a home that needs updating or renovating. Home sellers should consult their Realtors to discuss whether updating the bathroom would be the right investment to lead to a quick and profitable sale.

The home owners who plan to stay in their house for a few years gain much more than just an increase in the value of their home. For them the cost of the bathroom remodel can be a long term investment that pays off significantly by increasing the quality of life for years. It could mean getting that double sink vanity you’ve been wanting, eliminating having to share a single sink and mirror. Never use the huge garden tub that takes up half the bathroom? Take it out and build that huge dream shower with all of the body sprays and the rain shower head mounted from the ceiling. Your moldy, leaky shower with the gold trim could be transformed into an inviting shower with warm stone tile, beautiful glass mosaics, and a frame-less shower door. All of the plain white cultured marble on the tub, shower, and vanity counter top that was popular in the 1980’s could be replaced with vibrant colors, gorgeous tile, brushed nickel faucets and towel bars, and a sleek granite vanity counter top with under-mounted sinks. Tired of looking at those boring old oak vanity cabinets? Replace them with modern cherry or maple cabinet with clean lines with vessel sinks on top that you’ve seen in the home improvement and design magazines. The $1781 difference between the remodeling costs and added value to your home will bring functionality, beauty, and comfort to you and your family for years. And when you do get ready to eventually sell your home, you will be ahead of the game.

Chad Walker – Texas Shower Company