So its time to show your home to some prospective buyers. What will they see when they tour your home and come to the bathroom? Will they see overcrowded and dirty cabinets? Is there also the accompanying musical addition of a dripping faucet? Do the slider’s on the shower door work and roll smoothly or must the doors be pried open with a crowbar?
Most home buyers are always favorably impressed when shown a clean and beautiful bathroom, but these same buyers will walk away from an otherwise suitable home, if the bathrooms look neglected. Why take a chance on losing potential buyers when all you need do is show your bathroom some tender loving care.
You also can, of course, hire an interior designer who will give your bathroom a complete makeover, or as complete a makeover as you like. They will design a beautiful new space for you and will perfectly utilize the available area. This can be a pricey option though since you are talking about a major renovation which will encompass many different craftsmen. Usually, a total renovation would entail ripping everything out right down to the wall studs, upgrading the wiring if needed, putting in new walls and replacing every fixture in the room. Once completed, you will have a bathroom that is so gorgeous, you might even decide to put off your decision to move.
But if you absolutely have to sell, and you’re strapped for time and money, there are some things you can do now to help clean up that neglected bathroom and convert that prospective buyer into a home owner.
The first thing you must do is stand at the entrance to your bathroom, and try to see it as a potential buyer would see it. Or try to imagine that you are the buyer. Would seeing this bathroom put the house in a good light or would its neglected appearance make you think that the owners most likely also neglected other parts of the home’s maintenance.
Some quick suggestions follow to help beautify your bathroom, and turn those prospective buyers into new home owners. So roll up your sleeves and let’s get to work.
• Everyone, especially prospective buyers, likes to see nice clean spaces. It helps to maintain the illusion that there is plenty of space for all your toiletries, since none of it is showing. So make sure there is no clutter in your bathroom. If it can’t be thrown away then store it out of sight.
• Get your cleaning supplies out and get to work removing all the accumulated grime from the wall tiles, sink and bath area. Today’s products make it easier than ever to get your tiles and bathroom surfaces sparkling clean. Don’t forget to clean the shower doors too!
• Purchase some bathroom caulk and replace the caulking that surrounds the tub and shower doors. Make sure that the caulk you use is mildew resistant and especially made for bathroom use.
• Throw out your old shower curtain, and get a nice brightly colored one that will complement the colors in your bathroom. Don’t forget to also replace the rod itself, because mold and dirt also accumulate there. If that’s not possible, then purchase a shower rod cover. These are normally just a thin rolled up tube of plastic in different colors that would unroll enough to fit over the existing shower curtain rod.
• If you’re handy with a wrench, then I’d suggest also replacing the bathroom faucet. It’s not a big deal, (as long as you remember to shut the water off first), and buyers always appreciate a nice shiny new faucet.
• The faucet in the bath area is a little more work, but also entirely manageable by a homeowner. So I’d suggest this gets replaced also.
• Now that the plumbing fixtures are replaced, I’d turn my attention to the bathroom light over the sink. This is another job that is entirely within the capabilities of the average homeowner, and one that will definitely pay dividends in the overall appearance of your bathroom. In fact, you should try to get one that will be a perfect match for the new mirrored cabinet you will also purchase. These two items are what will most often draw the eyes of a prospective buyer and hopefully make them think to themselves, or even better exclaim aloud, how beautiful your bathroom is!
• If you have wallpaper on your walls, then I’d suggest removing it, especially if it’s peeling and cracked in places. Now paint the walls with a warm light color, one that will be complementary to the color of the tile and tub. If there are a lot of imperfections in the wall, you can get a textured paint, which will help to hide those blemishes. Don’t forget to paint the trim and the bathroom door itself.
• Replace your old toilet seat and if you can, also replace your old towel bars and toilet roll holder. Make sure they all match, as that will help to unify the space, making it that more pleasing to the eye.
Now enjoy the fruits of your labor, because you now have a bathroom that you can luxuriate in. A place where you can soak and relax, and lose all the tension you’ve accumulated during your hectic day. But if you’ve done your job well, you won’t get to enjoy it for too long, because the first prospective buyer that sees your house will no doubt want it for himself so that he too can luxuriate in this beautifully modeled bathroom.
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