There are many good reasons to consider a new bathroom. Maybe your family is expanding, or your children are reaching the age when they spend hours in the bath or shower.
Perhaps you want to create something sumptuous and impressive for when your loved ones come to stay. Or you might just feel that you’ve lived with that dated suite long enough, and you’re finally ready to create the spa-style sanctuary of your dreams.
Whatever your reasons for wanting a new bathroom or upgrade, you’re most likely aware that it may not come cheap. While it’s possible to make some changes on a budget, if you’re looking for the wow factor or a more practical overhaul, it’s wise to consider your budget and funding beforehand.
The good news is that there’s a very good chance that you could treat yourself to your new dream bathroom and know that it’s a sound investment that could even yield additional returns when you come to sell your home.
This is because a decent bathroom is a major asset when it comes to property. Experts estimate that improving your facilities, layout, or decor in the right way could increase your property value by around 5%.
The key phrase here, however, is ‘in the right way’ – because not all spending on a new bathroom is guaranteed to give you a return on your investment.
So, how can you know where to splurge and where to budget?
Here are a couple of expert tips for upgrading your bathroom in a way that adds value to your property in the long run.
A Sound Structure
If you want to ensure your new bathroom becomes an asset, it’s good to go back to basics. Whether you’re updating an existing bathroom, or you’re creating a new space, it’s vital that the room is structurally sound and fit for bathroom use.
Home extension experts, Resi, have this to say about how to allocate your budget for any new bathroom installations, “Put your money into getting your bathroom structurally sound.”
This is great advice, after all, you don’t want to have to rip out all those expensive mother-of-pearl tiles because there’s an issue with the flooring or the pipes are leaking.
It may not be the most glamorous or exciting part of your new bathroom project, but ensuring a sound structure and basic utilities could save you time, hassle, and a good deal of money in the long run.
Pay some attention to the basics and you can be confident that your future spending on the bathroom will stand the test of time, long enough for you to see a return on your investment when you come to sell your home.
Consider The Basics
Once you’ve got a sound structure for your new bathroom or upgrade, you might think it’s time for the fun stuff – the mood boards and shopping! Not quite – if you want to ensure you get the best return on your bathroom spend, there are a few, less exciting, things to consider.
Before you splurge on the shiny fixtures or luxury tiles, it’s important to go back to basics and think about the daily use of the bathroom, along with the essentials for maintenance and safety.
For example, one basic thing that often gets overlooked in the planning stage is adequate ventilation. Yet, this is so important, both for protecting your investment and the well-being of your residents.
Ability Bathe Bathrooms in Devon stress the importance of considering this basic aspect during the planning stage. They say, “It is essential to ensure that bathrooms have proper ventilation. Simply opening a window won’t cut it.”
This is because there are specific regulations about bathroom ventilation. If you’re keen to sell your property one day, you’ll need all the right legal boxes to be ticked when it comes to your renovations.
Yet, the reason these regulations exist is that adequate ventilation is vital to ensure your bathroom is a safe space for all those who use it. Damp and mould can be health hazards, not to mention unsightly problems that you don’t want in your smart new bathroom.
So, as you start to think about how you’ll enjoy your new upgrade, making sure you address the functional basics will ensure a much happier outcome in the long run.
A new bathroom is a considerable undertaking and it’s worth spending a little extra time to get the basics and fundamentals right. Then you can enjoy the fun aspects of designing your new sanctuary, as well as looking forward to a profitable return on your home investment.