We all know what it’s like when your remodeling budget is tight – you compromise on certain materials but still need to make sure you end up with a great result.
There are lots of tips and tricks for every room to ensure a successful project, but some are a better investment than others. If you’re trying to improve your home before putting it on the market, then I believe a focus on either the kitchen or bathroom will promise the best results.
As your neighborhood real estate agent, I am fortunate to meet prospective buyers who are in your area seeking their next home. There’s no doubt that a clean, modern bathroom is an essential part of the equation for them.
Here are some quick tips on how to give your bathroom a facelift at minimal cost.
- Be sure your bathroom is waterproofed before moving forward with improvements. A leaking bathroom can cause damage to other parts of the home.
- Instead of investing in expensive tiles and grout for the shower, consider high-pressure laminate or polymer panels. They come in an array of striking colors and patterns. Some designs have a marble effect, while others will mimic tiles. The installation of panels is far cheaper than paying for a tiler. Using panels means that you don’t have to contend with grout that can go grey after even limited use.
- The issue of dirty grout is a big issue on the shower floor. A cheaper, cleaner alternative is an acrylic shower pan that can be matched to the color and design of the laminate panels.
- Invest in a modern, glass shower screen. These are popular with prospective buyers.
- If you need to DIY and remodel the bathroom yourself, you’ll find the panels faster and easier to install. They are half the weight of an equivalent piece of glass and 25 times more “impact-resistant”.
- Getting tiles to sit flat against the wall can be difficult even if you have a waterproofed backing board. If you get the job wrong, water can become trapped between the tile and board and create mold. Consider hiring a contractor for this job.
- Ensure any painting – to ceilings or walls – is done in a mildew resistant paint that can be bought specially for bathrooms and wet areas.
- Install smart faucets and buy new towels to finish the look.