Home Improvement Cost vs. Value (pt2)

Bathrooms.

Earlier we looked at the home improvement cost vs. value for kitchens.  Now lets take a look at bathrooms.  Oh, the bathroom...the little room that could, and should!  A bathroom should be a place of comfort, pleasure.  A place to read, meditate or just get away from your significant other...among other things.  Being serious now… lets take a look at what kind of return you can expect when you pimp out the box with the porcelain throne.  These numbers were compiled by Remodel Magazine on projects done in the Seattle area.  Figures are based on a resale scenario one year after project completion.

Bathroom Addition  Project Description: Add a full 6-by-8-foot bathroom to a house with one or one-and-a-half baths. Locate it within the house's footprint. Include cultured-marble vanity top, molded sink, tub/shower with ceramic tile surround, low-profile toilet, general and spot lighting, mirrored medicine cabinet, linen storage, vinyl wallpaper, and ceramic tile floor.

• Project cost: $26,487
• Resale Value:  $30,000
• Cost Recouped:  113.3%

Bathroom Remodel - Midrange  Project Description: Update a bathroom that's at least 25 years old. Replace all fixtures to include standard-sized tub with ceramic tile surround, toilet, solid-surface vanity counter with integral double sink, recessed medicine cabinet, ceramic tile floor, and vinyl wallpaper.

• Project cost:  $12,039
• Resale Value:  $16,571
• Cost recouped:  137.6%

Bathroom Remodel - Upscale  Project Description: Expand an existing 5-by-7-foot bathroom to 9-by-9-foot within existing house footprint. Add another window bringing total glazing area to 30 square feet. Relocate and replace tub with custom dual 4-by-6-foot shower with top-of-line fittings and full-body wash shower wall, tile and glass block surround. Relocate the toilet into a partitioned area and replace it with one-piece color unit. Add bidet. Add stone tops in custom vanity cabinet with twin designer sinks. Add linen/towel storage closet. Tile floor, papered walls, hardwood trim. Add general and spot lighting. Add humidistat-controlled exhaust fan.

• Project cost:  $29,408
• Resale value:  $31,714
• Cost recouped:  107.8%

Comments

[Jen]

Thanks for this great information! We were just trying to decide on what home improvement project to do next. (Which would add the most value.) Looks like we will be remodeling the Master Bath...We'll send you the before and after pictures. Thanks again!