Are you planning on renovating the bathroom in your home? If so, although a bathroom renovation is one of the smartest investments that you can make (especially if you plan on selling your home), the reality is that as with any renovation there are a variety of mistakes that you don’t want to make.
1. Forgetting ventilation
While focusing on your sleek, new programmable shower, don’t forget about the bathroom’s less glamorous needs—like how fresh air will enter the room.
“The biggest mistake is underestimating the needed ventilation,” says Heather Carbone, a real estate agent in Boston. “The bathroom is the dampest room in the house and can be a breeding ground for mold."
“The classic ‘bad bathroom remodel’ story centers on a poorly ventilated bathroom,” Linden says.
In addition to mold, insufficient aeration could lead to mildew or persistent odors, he explains. So, it's important to include an exhaust fan in the plans and budget accordingly.
“Buying discount lighting, tile, and glass is not disastrous, but buying a discount fan is, so always pay for quality when it comes to your exhaust fan,” says Linden.
2. Taking out the bathtub
Unless you’re sure that this is your forever home and you’ll never sell it, you should always include a bathtub or shower in the remodeling plans.
“The trend in bathroom renovation is ripping out the tubs and replacing them with walk-in showers, but keep in mind that this could potentially limit prospective tenants or home buyers," says Howard Margolis, a real estate agent at Douglas Elliman Real Estate in New York.
3. Installing the tiling yourself
You want water to flow freely in your shower, sink, tub, and toilet—but you don’t want water seeping into your floor and walls. A subpar DIY tiling job could lead to major leakage.
“Some homeowners try to install a tile shower themselves or have an unqualified contractor do the job to save money,” says Nathan Outlaw, president at Onvico, a general contracting and design-build company in Thomasville, GA.
If installed incorrectly, Outlaw says the shower can start to leak and could cause problems, including structural damage.
4. Overlooking smart storage solutions
Storage and shelving are sometimes overlooked in favor of trendy design choices.
Alex Lavrenov of Warburg Realty in New York says lately people will opt for a mirror above the sink instead of a practical medicine cabinet.
“I see this all the time, and quite often buyers are turned off by the fact that the mirror takes up a lot of wall space and offers no additional storage,” he says.
A pedestal sink is another stylish option, but a vanity sink with cabinets will be better for keeping all your bathroom clutter hidden.
“The extra storage space provided by more countertop and cabinets with drawers will be more useful,” says Outlaw.
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