| Bathroom Makeovers
Research shows that kitchens and bathrooms
are the most important rooms in any home when it comes to attracting buyers
and selling a home. This month we take a closer look at bathroom upgrades.
There is no single “design” for
bathrooms that makes a house an instant seller. Indeed, in some parts of the
world, what passes for a stylish bathroom might appear unsightly to buyers
in another country. Given these differences, we’ll attempt to describe
some upgrades that should have a universal appeal to buyers everywhere.
Number of Bathrooms
The first thing to consider is how many
bathrooms are appropriate for the size of the house. In some parts of the
USA, a minimum of two full bathrooms is now considered typical, with an
additional half-bath (a toilet and wash basin), a basic requirement for the
main living floor.
Studying new home construction is a great
way to get a feel for what home buyers want in your local market. New-home
builders understand their target market and design homes to meet your area’s
demands.
In many parts of the country, the average
square footage of a single family home has been increasing to accommodate
demand for larger rooms, and especially grand master bedroom suites with
walk-in closets and generous master bathrooms.
When looking at a potential investment
property, consider how the existing living space might be rearranged to
accommodate additional bathroom space if necessary. You may choose to trade
off some living space or a bedroom to accommodate a larger master bedroom
suite and add in a master bathroom. A three bedroom with a stylish master
suite may be more appealing to many buyers than a home with just one full
bath and four small bedrooms.
Even homes that at first don’t look like
they can accommodate such changes could be worth a second look. We recently
looked at a Cape style property that had one full bathroom downstairs and
one full bathroom upstairs. The second floor could accommodate three
good-sized bedrooms with minimal change but it would be impossible to add a
master bathroom suite without losing two of the bedrooms. However, the first
floor had been expanded and featured three living rooms as well as a study.
By redesigning the floor plan and moving the staircase, it was possible to
design the home with a full master bedroom suite on the first floor,
complete with its own generous sized bathroom overlooking a private
courtyard fountain. The result was a four-bedroom home with three full
bathrooms including a first floor master suite. (First floor master bedroom
suites will become more sought after as the baby boom generation moves into
retirement).
For more details on improving bathrooms go
to http://www.ushomeinvestor.com/Owners/bathrooms.htm |
