Bathroom remodeling can produce good returns
Updating a bathroom can be a cost effective project by not only increasing a home鈥檚 value, but also providing efficiency, comfort and storage benefits in the coming years.
If a homeowner is planning to sell his or her house, remodeling a bathroom can also produce a good return on investment, according to Tom Simon, real estate broker and owner of Howard Hanna Real Estate Services in Belle Vernon.
Simon said bathrooms and kitchens are always a major selling point. 鈥淎 lot of (buyers) don鈥檛 want to have to work on a house,鈥� said Simon. 鈥淭hey want it in move-in condition.鈥�
Major concern
Danny Matthews, realtor at SWC Properties in Uniontown, said bathrooms may not be the biggest room in every home, but they are always a major concern to home buyers.
National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) listed the average cost in 2014 for a bathroom remodeling project was $17,735.
Because of the time and work involved, NKBA recommends spending up to six months evaluating and planning.
A 2014 鈥淐ost vs. Value鈥� report from Remodeling Magazine said homeowners who updated their most frequented rooms and those who added on more living space enjoyed the biggest bang for their buck on home improvements.
Simon agrees.
鈥淵ou don鈥檛 have to spend over and above, just make it newer and clean,鈥� he said.
Angie鈥檚 List rated bathrooms, especially luxurious ones, as one of this year鈥檚 top remodeling projects along with kitchens, bedrooms, bigger closets and extra pantry space.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), a bathroom remodel can offer a homeowner up to a 71 percent return on their investment.
The extent of a renovation, however, will depend on how much work the bathroom needs, how much money is budgeted and the time it takes to complete the project.
鈥淎 quality, updated bathroom is always more appealing than an outdated one, which attracts more buyers,鈥� said Matthews.
According to Consumer Reports, the bathroom is the second-most dreamed about room for remodeling (after the kitchen).
Mike Rogers, co-owner of Stoney Point Kitchens and Baths on Route 40 in Uniontown, said both rooms are generally the most expensive to remodel because they involve plumbing, electric, plaster, and tile work along with replacing a vanity, tub/shower and counter.
According to Rogers, the cost to remodel an an average size bathroom of 5 foot by 10 foot ranges between $15,000 to $17,000 for labor and materials.
When luxury upgrades such as heated floors come into play, Rogers said the price goes up.
Lighting options
Lighting experts have also found that homeowners undertaking bathroom remodeling projects are often left in the dark when choosing the right fixtures.
鈥淲hen we look at the amount of money that people invest in building or renovating bathrooms, a proper lighting plan has the potential to deliver dramatic results, costs only a small fraction of the project budget, and yet is often lacking or overlooked,鈥� said Gary Taylor, president of Living Lighting in Ontario.