When it comes to selling a home, the sale often hinges on kitchens and bathrooms. These spaces still remain at the top of a potential buyer’s list in judging the attractiveness of a home. As for home sellers, when it comes time to sell your home, you may or may not want to spend the money to renovate.
Bathrooms especially lend themselves to an opportunity for a home seller to increase the value of their home without spending much money. There are several key areas that a homeowner can focus on to give a bathroom a quick lift.
Replace the Toilet
Replacing a toilet is not an expensive upgrade, and typically costs under $300. A new toilet can instantly add a fresh look, and if you choose a water-saving toilet, it can be a huge selling point for the buyer looking for green or money-saving features.
Replace the Countertop
When it comes to countertops, there are lots of options that a homeowner can take on—here are some of my top tips:
From laminates to single-slab surfaces that include marble, granite and quartz, or other materials like concrete or wood, replacing a countertop is a great bathroom DIY project. While some of these surfaces are more expensive than others, each of them requires something called templating, in which a slab is cut to a precise size with cutouts made to accommodate the sink and faucet.
While I would not suggest a homeowner create a template themselves, they could install one on their own.
Looking for a super affordable option? Especially when it comes to laminated surfaces, countertops can also be transformed with a couple of coats of paint!
Replace Bathroom Tile
Believe it or not tiling does not require a high level of skill—these days most tiles come on a mesh background, which makes the installation easy and all you have to do is create an easy mix grout and apply! Tile can be used on both the walls, shower enclosures, and countertops.
Add Beadboard or Wainscoting
When it comes to traditional or country style residences, beadboard is extremely popular. While this is typically done using individual planks of wood, one can also create from ready-made beadboard sheets typically sold in big-box stores, all you need is a staple gun and you are ready to go!
Replace or Paint Cabinet Doors
Not ready to splurge on new cabinets? Well if your cabinets are made out of wood, refinishing them may be a great project for you to take on. All you have to do is sand down the doors, paint the doors with a primer, and add a fresh coat of paint. A great alternative is to also replace the cabinet doors, which is an affordable option as well.
Replace Fixtures or Towel Bars
You would be surprised how fresh a bathroom can look with a shiny new faucet or spruced up towel bars. Not only are these items not expensive, replacing them are the perfect DIY for any homeowner who has basic tools and some muscle!
Replace Doors and Handles
Replacing doors and door handles are not only one of my affordable DIY tips for bathrooms but the entire home.
Five-time Emmy Award-winning television personality Cathy Hobbs is the founder of Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes, a New York City-based firm specializing in interior design, home staging, and home staging training. Go to www.cathyhobbs.com to learn more about Cathy, or to ask her a home staging or design question, send a tweet to @cathyhobbs.
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