Should you add a bathroom to your home?

If you don’t have enough bathrooms in your home, it’s a lack that’s painfully obvious to everyone living there. Having to wait outside a bathroom isn’t a pleasant experience for the people waiting or taking their turn. So, if you’re thinking about adding a new bathroom to your home, keep reading.

Adding a bathroom to your home not only makes the necessities of life easier for you and your family to deal with, but it’s a decent return on investment when you decide to later sell your house.

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Did you know?
Lack of bathroom space is often a deal-breaker for potential
​buyers who otherwise like your home.

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If you decide to renovate your bathroom before selling your home, potential buyers will be more interested if the bathroom is spacious and has updated fixtures and appliances.

What size bathroom makes the most sense?
A key consideration is whether to build a full, three-quarter or half-bath. A full bath will have a sink, toilet, shower, and tub. A half bath is just a sink and toilet. And then there’s the three-quarter bath, which is a sink, toilet, and shower (no tub). Generally speaking, it is less expensive to put in a half bath, and it is easier to convert another space in the home such as a utility closet for the purpose.

If you don't have the budget for a full bath but want to be able to provide a space for the basics of hygiene and cleanliness, a three-quarter bathroom is a great solution. Most people prefer a quick shower to a long, hot bath, and so as long as you have at least one bathtub in your house, you may not need a second full bath.

The appeal of another full versus a three-quarter bath depends on the buyer. Families with little kids often want another bathtub, while those with older children prefer a shower. If your house has only one bathroom and your budget is really tight, install the half-bath. People usually don’t mind waiting to take a bath or shower but waiting to use the toilet is another matter.

Remodeling the Bathroom
What if you don’t need an extra bathroom, but want to remodel a tired old bathroom to make it more appealing to buyers? If that’s the case, you don’t want to spend a great deal of money, but do spend your budget wisely. Working with a contractor who specializes in bathroom remodels can help you make the most of your budget. You don't have to spend a lot and it could make your house sell more quickly down the line.

Resale Value
New bathrooms are added to homes either as replacements or as additions. Either way, a new bathroom can freshen a home's interior and raise its overall value. New bathrooms, though, can be expensive. A mid-range bathroom addition, for example, can run around anywhere from $25,000 or more to add a new space, depending on the design and material choices. Converting an existing space is considerably less costly. Typical ROI on a new bathroom is generally good, garnering between 40-60 percent for the homeowner.

Prospective home buyers often value bathrooms greatly, but a house that does not have a good mix of bathrooms might sell poorly. Full and three-quarter baths in a home are often more attractive than half-baths at home sale time. And home buyers with children often want home bathrooms with tubs for the kids and showers for the adults. However, as the size and amenities in a bathroom grow, so does the cost.

Before committing to a bathroom addition, call in a real estate agent or a professional appraiser to evaluate whether an additional bathroom makes sense in your situation. Buyers tend to prefer houses where the number of bathrooms equals the number of bedrooms, according to National Association of Home Builders.

The team at Fort Rock Construction has been working with homeowners since 2001 and we are bathroom remodeling experts. Put our years of experience to use with your home. Give us a call for an estimate today at 541-767-1611.