Reno focus: Bathroom

06/12/2018

The bathroom is one of the spaces of the house that, enhanced with intelligent renovation, can give the average property a huge element of madness. However, the bathroom is often neglected, especially in rental buildings, as it can be considered too expensive and complicated to renovate.

In fact, waiting for the renovation of your bathroom can cost you thousands of dollars in potential rental income, not to mention rising equity. A $ 5,000 investment in your bathroom could bring you greater rental gains in the next few years, and rising value will help you increase your overall wealth.

In terms of style, cascading rain showers, chrome fittings and carefully designed floor plans now feature prominently on the list of tenants. That said, Jane Slack-Smith of The Ultimate Guide of Renovation claims to have witnessed the growing popularity of luxurious bathrooms during her years as a successful real estate investor, but she stresses that the budget remains the factor the most important to take into account when renovating an investment. property.

"Will a tenant pay more for a shower with changing color lights? Probably not – it's a step too far. The goal is to renovate at the same level as other renovated properties on the street and spend your money where it is seen, "she says.

If you're a savvy buyer and you can locate a sumptuous rain shower from an importer for the price of a standard money ticket, you can add a wow factor and your budget will remain intact – so stay strategic . Careful planning can make your bathroom a little out of the ordinary, and it's possible to achieve luxury with less, thanks to Slack-Smith's simple advice.

First step: opt for an elegant tiling
Tiling up to the ceiling is a fantastic way to add a luxury allure to a bathroom. Tiles can withstand the humidity conditions in this room and are easier to maintain than painting.

Opt for quality ceramic tile rather than porcelain to keep up with the budget and choose large, neutral-colored, rectified edge tiles.

To properly tile a bathroom wall, you must carefully prepare the number of tiles you need according to the layout and design of the tile itself. Tile suppliers often provide guidelines on the amount of wall that a package can cover.

Summit Point
The eggshell-colored ceramic tiles or alabaster can mimic the appearance of porcelain tiles. With regular cleaning and maintenance, your walls will always look like new.

Step Two: Creating a Contrast
The contrasting colors are striking, so consider using dark tiles on the floor if you opt for clear walls. Many luxury hotels create this look in their bathrooms to really reinforce the overwhelming factor, as the combination creates depth.

Contrary to what many people might think, darker tiles actually have more dirt than light-colored tiles. Therefore, if you are renovating your home, you will need to consider your cleaning program! Dark, wood-like tiles are also an option if you want to create a warmer atmosphere. Keep in mind that large tiles mean fewer lines of grout, which can create an illusion of space.

Summit Point
Unless you are very practical, it is usually best to leave the tiles to the professionals. This is especially true when a high-end finish is required. If you do not know what you are doing, hire someone who will.

Step Three: Hang on Vanity
If your bathroom is small, hanging vanities can give you the illusion of being roomier, as they reduce what's left on the floor. Vanities come in a variety of styles, brands and sizes to match the design of the room. You can find anything from robust drawers to vanities with hinged doors.

They also have different finishes, ranging from ever popular white to wood. Neutral colors such as dark wood are beautiful and stand out from the walls in soft tones, embellishing the space. If you have room, choose a double basin.

Summit Point
Always buy, as you can find hanging vanities for a wide range of prices. The units can also be embellished with a nice mirror placed above and maybe bottles placed at strategic locations.

Fourth stage: Upsize the shower
Remember to use a double shower and oversized showerheads. Size really matters when it comes to perceived value, and in this case, bigger is better because the appeal of the bathroom keeps rising!

In addition to looking great, a dual showerhead adds extra functionality by allowing two people to take a shower at a time. And who does not like rain shower heads? It looks really luxurious and ensures a clean shower as it has such coverage. You can adjust the settings of the showerhead to switch from a soft and light stream to the deafening ringing of a waterfall.

Summit Point
Replacing a shower head is a delicate task. So be sure to control it, otherwise you could do damage. Opt for showerheads with easy-to-clean hoses and nozzles.

Step Five: Choose Chromium
Faucets, soap dishes, soap dishes and toilet roll holders all need to shine to bring a final touch to the bathroom. Chrome fittings will help showcase luxury. They are relatively timeless and will remain relevant for years to come.

Chrome is also an ideal material because it resists the usual wear and tear of bathroom fixtures. Although not completely indestructible, it is designed to last a long time, while maintaining a pristine appearance. A quick maintenance can keep your appliances in perfect condition, for example by regularly cleaning water stains and soap scum.

Things to do in

You can also opt for the replica designer tapware. It is superb, economical and complies with the American standard. Take the habit of rinsing and drying the faucet after use to prevent the accumulation of stains.

Step Six: Transform the Bath into Characteristics
A freestanding tub is a popular modern trend and is easier to install than your typical bath-to-hob combination. It alone can be a central part of the room.

However, like all the rest of your renovation, it should be adapted to your target demographic. Families with young children will always look for a bathroom with a bath, so keep that in mind. Although bathroom prices may be reasonable, after remaking the cooktop, tiles and plaster, costs can quickly increase.

Summit Point
For areas where a freestanding bath may be a bit too high, you may want to consider repainting the bath rather than updating it – this can give you all the lift you need.

Step Seven: Mirrors Reflect Your Style
Another great effect is to have your mirrors up to the ceiling. This creates the illusion of impressive proportions because the reflections allow you to expand a small room.

Frameless mirrors are a great option because they blend into the background, allowing you to focus on what's reflected. However, if you are looking for a feature element, a mirror with an interesting frame can become a topic of discussion.

Not only are large mirrors very useful, but they also allow the light to bounce around the space, giving the impression that the bathroom is light and airy.

Summit Point
A backlit mirror can transform a bathroom into a glamorous den, while serving as a source of light. With one of them, you can also create a minimalist look.

Eighth step: maintain the fixed limits
If there is enough room in your shower area, install a fixed glass panel instead of a shower screen. This creates a minimalist appearance while limiting the maintenance to be performed because there will be fewer moving parts. In addition, clear glass panels can help highlight all the characteristic elements of your shower, such as a beautiful tiling pattern or a gorgeous shower head. They can also limit the formation of mold because there is little water accumulated along the door seals.

Frameless shower panels are often customized to fit your space. It is therefore important to know your measurements before buying. Otherwise, it may cost you to make replacements.

Summit Point
Frameless panels are not effective in preventing leaks because they do not have the necessary joints around the edges of the door. It is therefore crucial to ensure that water does not splash too much in their direction.

CASE STUDIES

Noting the change in luxury in the rental market, as tenants were willing to pay more for a superior bathroom, Tracey McMillan renovated the bathroom on her property for just over $ 8,000. – with amazing results

When Tracey McMillan enrolled during the Ultimate Guide to Renovation, she had no idea that a rusty bath would be the cornerstone of the successful renovation of her NSW villa.

"I bought two villas in Norah Head as rental property, and the two bathrooms were ruined bathrooms. Fortunately, this one needed an upgrade rather than a major build. "

Before Tracey started, she evaluated her potential tenants.

"It's good advice I learned through the course, which is to create a potential tenant profile, which is your baseline throughout the project."

Tracey noticed a tendency for Sydney residents to migrate to the central coast – and that the preferences of these sailors changed from those of the generation residents. To attract new tenants, she moves away from the classic theme of the bathroom, with its patterns of sky blue and shell, and creates a more modern look in black and white that gives it a luxury appeal, with a design contemporary splinters of color. Tracey also introduced a cloud-gray theme for the floor and wall tiles to compensate for the brilliant shine of bathroom fixtures and fittings.

Even though she wanted to look like a luxury bathroom, sticking to a budget was a major concern. For example, she knew that a black frameless shower screen would be the only item that would allow her bathroom to go from the ordinary to the eye; However, his first quotes almost blew the idea. Nevertheless, staying true to her original design was important to Tracey and she was determined to find exactly what she wanted, within budget.

"One of the most important budget savings was not moving the plumbing. I just replaced everything in the shell "

"1500 dollars allowed me to have this idea of ​​decoration, but at the expense of other things really essential. However, I finally found one for $ 556! In addition, one of the biggest budget savings is that I did not move the plumbing. I just replace everything in the shell. "

A great buy from a large hardware store that was closing meant that Tracey had also bought high-end faucets and accessories at very low-end prices.

Finally, to finish the bathroom, Tracey installed his grandfather's old foot bath, which brought the entire project together. It has been perfectly restored in pure white with black details and has become the center of a superb bathroom.

This modern bathroom renovation is the result of targeting a specific market, smart shopping and a depressed bath that is now a star!

Jane Slack-Smith is a best-selling author,
media commentator and creator of
FREE video course: How to find, renovate and take advantage of degraded properties.
For more information, visit freerenocourse.com.au.

Disclaimer: All indicated 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 you speak to a qualified professional before making an investment decision.

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