You may be wondering if it makes sense to spend the money remodeling various rooms in your house before you put the house on the market. In many cases, remodeling an old, outdated bathroom does make sense. A clean, fresh bathroom can help your house look more appealing to prospective buyers. If you live in a desirable area such as Fairfax, most of your prospective buyers will appreciate a professional bathroom remodel done by an experienced remodeling contractor.
Tips for a Bathroom Remodel to Help Sell the House
When you know you plan to sell the house soon, your bathroom remodel is not necessarily going to be the kind of remodel that you would do if you were going to remain in the house. You will not, and should not, spend money for personal preferences, such as unique color combinations, major fixture upgrades, or fancy towel warmers. Keep in mind that a bathroom remodel can provide an average return value of about 70 percent of the cost of your remodel. You simply want the bathroom to show well, which means it should appear clean and updated. Most buyers want a house that is in move-in condition. A bathroom that does not need remodeling is a plus.
A bathroom remodel focused on selling the house need not cost as much as a full bathroom remodel. Here are some tips for remodeling your bathroom to appeal to prospective buyers:
Take Care of the Smaller Repairs that Will Help Your House Show Better
If your plumbing and lighting fixtures haven’t been updated in 15 years, it’s likely worth your time and money to do them. If you don’t have to relocate plumbing and major fixtures, you can save a lot of expense. Doing small repairs means repairing such things as cracked tile, leaky faucets, grungy grout and sinks, and so forth. You may have lived with these things for so long you may not even notice them anymore. If you want a professional opinion on what repairs need your attention, get opinions from trusted friends, a couple of different real estate agents who know your neighborhood, and a reputable professional bathroom remodeling contractor. Take note of the things they identify as most in need of attention.
Fresh Paint
One of the easiest and usually least expensive things you can do is paint the walls and the ceiling. New paint will mean you have to repair any damage to the drywall such as holes, scuff marks, and water spots. If you have wallpaper, you will probably have to remove it. Wallpaper can make a room seem outdated, and it may turn off prospective buyers who do not share your taste in wallpaper. You may have to repair old caulking around the bathroom vanity, shower, tub, and tile, also. A new coat of paint makes everything look new and well maintained.
Keep the Color Scheme Light and Neutral
When you remodel your bathroom to sell your home, stick with light and neutral color schemes. These color schemes appeal to a large number of prospective buyers for a number of reasons: 1) light neutrals make the room seem larger; 2) they lend an air of sophistication; 3) they look clean; and 4) your prospective buyers know they can easily personalize the bathroom with their own accessories in their own favorite colors after they move in.
Check Out Your Competition
Visit the homes in your area that represent your competition. See if the homeowners have updated their bathrooms. You will need to compare your home as is to theirs. If you plan to price yours in line with theirs, your home, including your bathroom, will need to look at least as good. If you want to sell for top dollar, a bigger bathroom remodel could help. If your neighborhood is among several highly desirable neighborhoods in Fairfax, your prospective buyers will in all likelihood be more discerning about when comparing homes. A professional bathroom remodeling contractor can design a bathroom remodel that will help your home hold its own among your competition.
Avoid Over-Improving
Make sure you do not overspend on your bathroom remodel. If you live in a home that has never been updated and you want to get top or near-top of the market price, you will need to update it, with particular attention paid to the kitchen and bathrooms. Consider using a home stager to help you plan out what you need to do. For a home in Fairfax, you will at least need to update the bathrooms and kitchen. 
Just painting the walls and changing the light fixtures may not be enough. Perhaps you need to change the countertops, and the flooring, both of which will require a professional contractor. Try not to overspend on the updates for your particular neighborhood. You will not recover the cost of the upgrades if your remodel costs so much that it brings your property in over the current market. An experienced Fairfax bathroom remodeling contractor can guide you on that point.
Budget Your Time
Construction often takes longer than you originally expected, so budget plenty of time. A reputable contractor may be busy for weeks on other jobs. Meanwhile, you should take care of getting other things done, such as working with the stager to decide on color schemes and with a real estate agent on staying current with the market in your area.
Contact a Fairfax Bathroom Remodeling Contractor
Before you list your Fairfax home for sale, you will want to make sure it outshines the competition. One way to do that is a bathroom remodel, especially if the bathroom has not been updated in a while. Speak to a professional Fairfax bathroom remodeling contractor to schedule an appointment. An experienced representative will come to your home, evaluate your proposed remodeling plans, discuss the options with you, and give you an estimate for the work. For more information and to schedule an appointment, call a Fairfax bathroom remodeling contractor today.
