The bathroom is easily one of the most important rooms of any dwelling. For many people, buyers or tenants, the aesthetics and functionality of the bathroom are one of the most critical considerations when choosing a home.
For this reason, you want to take special care in the renovation of this space. While some renovations can be done on a modest budget, it's not always the best idea to get into a bathroom project yourself, especially if you want to make major changes.
"When renovating larger bathrooms involving the removal of tile and installing a new waterproofing, it is not the time to test your skills in DIY, "say Luke Whittington and Shaun Hanley, owners of Reno Pack Pty Ltd. Renovation Experts.
"Bathrooms use plumbing and water, which can cause considerable damage to the rest of your property or neighboring properties. There may also be asbestos sheets or pipe insulators behind the tiles. Doing this work yourself or with friends or family can put you at considerable risk to your health. "
Because your well-being and that of your neighbors is essential, you may need to build a team of experienced specialists to successfully complete a safe and well-executed bathroom renovation. However, this does not mean that it will be impossible to make a bathroom renovation at a great price; There are areas where you can save money, and focusing on them will not make renovating your bathroom difficult for your wallet!
THE PROJECT: BATHROOM
FIRST STEP: BOUTIQUE AROUND – SENSIBLY
Renovators should always consider procuring materials themselves for the renovation process, as this is often less expensive than having a builder – but it is important that you do the prospecting process critical look at the specific needs of your bathroom.
"When you buy tiles, toilets, vanities, faucets, accessories from different suppliers, you can save money on each of these items; However, customers often make mistakes in their purchase, such as sizing or relevance issues, "say Luke and Shaun. "Products may also be damaged, which may result in costs, delays, and additional replenishment costs that may exceed initial savings."
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For Luke and Shaun, opting for more expensive products is not always the best choice. "Choose from your budget the brands offering the longest warranty periods to minimize the impact of unanticipated future maintenance costs."
STEP TWO: TAKE YOUR PROJECT WITH WISDOM
Bathroom tiles can be a big part of your budget because you usually need them for walls and floors. The cost can be particularly heavy if you look for your tiles to add a decorative element.
"Avoid mosaics, subway tiles or whimsical designs such as chevrons to save money on labor costs," Luke and Shaun suggest. "We recommend spending more on floor tiles because there is less floor space and a good-quality tile with darker tones can help mask the discoloration of the floor over time. This can be a real feature of your new bathroom. "
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Simple white ceramic tiles cost a fraction of the cost of porcelain or colored tiles. "They will give each new bathroom a clean, classic finish without breaking the bank," say Luke and Shaun.
[19459003 Third Stage: Keep Minor Renovations
It is sometimes necessary to change the plumbing, but if you do not have to do so, leave it as is. It's a good idea to keep renovations as simple as possible, it's the best way to save.
"It's always cheaper, faster and less management is left behind in existing sites. In the absence of an obvious benefit and rental return generated by offshoring services and existing footprinting, leave things where they are, "say Luke and Shaun.
"Adjust your bath and shower faucets to save money on moving costs and delays in blending into the wall."
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Luke and Shaun recommend faucets with a standard shower outlet, which are "easier to regild the coat of arms over time and to update the look to suit current trends without work major in your bathroom ".
STEP FOUR: BUY THE RACK
Having your bespoke bathroom accessories seems dreamy, but they can be expensive, but also tedious to install – and are usually useless in a rental property, unless it's the high end of the market .
"Standard and prefabricated vanities will not only be more economical and quicker to install than custom-made items, but they will also be much easier to change in the future when it will be time to refresh the bathroom, say Luke and Shaun.
You will find a wide variety of good quality fixtures, among other lighting fixtures, on store shelves, leaving you spoiled for choice.
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Mirrors greatly contribute to creating the illusion of space. Luke and Shaun advise opting for larger mirrors to give small bathrooms a larger surface.
And the smaller the border of a mirror, the more it looks great!
STAGE FIVE: KEEP WITHOUT FRAME
If the bathroom is small, the last thing to do is to draw attention to that. This is why it is wise to minimize visible boundaries to create a flow in space.
"Frameless glass shower screens are more expensive, but they certainly add more luxury to a bathroom than framed shower screens. They will add value, reduce cleaning costs and create a bigger, more open space, "say Luke and Shaun. "If your number one goal is to save money and reduce costs, you can use a semi-framed shower screen as a good compromise."
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To save even more space, opt for a hanging piece of furniture. It adds more surface by opening the floor. "The more you see upstairs, the more the room will feel great!"
STEP 6: Let the air in and out
A crucial factor in the work of bathrooms that many people forget is whether the air can flow easily through the space. A bathroom that lacks proper ventilation is not only uncomfortable and student, but also feels bad.
"Bathroom ventilation is important but is often neglected during renovations. Poorly ventilated bathrooms are a breeding ground for mold and mildew, which will make a new bathroom look old and tired in no time, "say Luke and Shaun. "If space permits, invest in a good quality air extractor – it will be money well spent later."
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Another good way to create natural ventilation in the bathroom is to install windows that also let in sunlight. Be careful, however, about security – and make sure the windows are placed in a way that preserves the confidentiality of the data.
7th stage: add a personal touch
Sometimes you want a more personal and expensive look than buying
all done, you can always save by buying "leftovers". "Try to call local stonemasons to find out if they have stone falls that they can provide to use them on a washboard in order to save money. money, instead of buying the entire slab of stone, "advise Luke and Shaun.
It may take a little while, but it could be a win-win situation for you and the stonemason. You can even get a big discount by helping them eliminate falls.
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Working with a traditional friend can give you a better rate, but it's not always the best idea, especially if they force you into other jobs. "The most common problem we see is timing, because your work is often not taken seriously," say Luke and Shaun.
CASE STUDY
Channel and Sam Dormer must comply with the business corporation legislation to get their bathroom renovation done. Channel and Sam Dormer were the proud owners of a two-bedroom investment apartment located in the upscale neighborhood of Bellevue Hill, Sydney, for 15 years when they realized that it was time to refurbish. "
The apartment was so run down that we had trouble finding quality tenants, "they explain. "Even though it was in a nice neighborhood close to the beach, the condition was so bad that we found that the tenants did not care to take care of that to avoid further damage, so it became Worse and worse. It was desperate for a redesign. "
However, dormers can not be content to resume the renovation of the apartment because of the restrictions imposed by legal persons.
"It took a little more time than expected to request and obtain the approvals because we had to attend company meetings and produce all kinds of documents, obtaining certificates for items such as coatings. ground. We even needed a separate approval only for waterproofing because it was part of one of the regulations. "
Initially, the couple also wanted to change the layout of the bathroom, but the company did not approve it. To advance the project, the sleepers finally agreed to leave it as it was,
focusing on other aspects of renovation that would also keep them within the limits of a sound budget. They opted for aesthetic but inexpensive wall finishes, plain white slabs, and durable and durable laminate flooring.
"It really helped a designer choose materials and colors, because we did not really know why to choose certain things more than others. As a result, the perceived value of the renovation was ultimately greater than the actual cost of the work. "
Efficiency was also taken into account by skylights in the choice of trades to work with because they did not want to disturb their neighbors longer than necessary. They also wanted someone to walk carefully in the common areas of the building. In the end, the efforts and care of the couple paid off.
"The renovation had a huge impact on rent potential, and we were able to increase it from $ 550 to $ 750 a week, which was a great result!"
STEP 8: THINK YOUR B The OTTOM Line
There is no difference when it comes to adding the cost to make the bathroom impress future renters and buyers, and not to blow up the bank.
"You do not want to hang on to having the best of the best and capitalize too much on your investment," say Luke and Shaun. "So, think about what's good for rental returns and resale. If your property is located in a nicer suburb and your budget is respected, you should always try to use this market to get the best return on investment and make your property easier to rent for the long term. "
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Freestanding tubs are a great way to add punch to your bathroom. Luke and Shaun also point out that "bathtubs are attractive for families with children, and that a brand new one can be bought cheaply."
Luke Whittington and Shaun Hanley co-found Reno Pack Pty Ltd. They are experts in the renovation of apartments and offer a simple, economic and complete renovation service
Disclaimer: All mentioned products and prices are correct at the time of printing. The advice contained in this article is provided as general information only and should not be considered as financial advice. Make sure to talk to a qualified professional before making an investment decision.
