Renovating your home can be an excellent way to add value to your home but also breathe new life to it.

If you aren’t able to complete an extensive renovation across different rooms of your house, a great place to start is the bathroom.

 

While most other rooms (besides the kitchen) can be spruced up with a bit of paint and new curtains, bathrooms tend to be the last place people decide to renovate because of all the plumbing and electrics.

You’ll know this is true if you have ever been to an open house where the living room, bedrooms and kitchen are modern and then the bathroom looks like it belongs in the 1980s.

However, a bathroom that has been given some much needed attention can be a major drawcard for buyers. If you aren’t in the right place financially to hire plumbers, tilers and builders to fix your bathroom then there are a few things you can actually do on your own. Here are just five of them.

Move the window. Now, this one might require a builder but it can definitely add some much needed class and life into the bathroom. If your window happens to be placed in a somewhat awkward spot (like in the shower or above the toilet) then switching its location ever so slightly can make a major difference.
If you are planning on re-tiling or renovating the tiles or walls in your bathroom then moving the window placement is relatively straight forward but can be a huge driver of value.

Painting. Make sure when picking a colour for your walls that they don’t show the water easily. So, neutral tones and darker shades are a good idea. If you are re-tiling your bathroom it’s a good idea to steer clear of bold patterns; just because you might love black and white mosaic from floor to ceiling doesn’t mean everyone will.

Know your limits. Sure you might be able to do a bit of DIY tiling here and there but when it comes to waterproofing, it’s best left to the professionals in. It’s safe to say anything that has to do with plumbing is probably best left someone who does it for a living. This is especially important if you aren’t planning on hiring a builder. It’ll be worth it when everything goes smoothly and is done right the first time!

Upgrade your pipes. Unless your home is brand spanking new, which would actually defeat the purpose of renovating, then paying the little bit extra for new pipes is probably worth it. Especially if your home is a few decades old and every time you flush your toilet it sounds like it’s struggling.
It’s definitely worth it if you’re selling the place soon. In saying that, it’s also vital to stay on budget if you are hoping to make a profit from the sale. Are you going to make your money back from this? If not, then maybe it’s best to do keep it minimalistic.

Move things. If the layout of your bathroom is a bit outdated and awkward then moving things can be just as effective as renovating. If you can avoid moving pipes and electives you can save a lot of money. Sometimes just switching the shower and bath can make a huge difference.