Can you post pics of your bathrooms?

If it doesn't scream OUTDATED!!! maybe you should just hold off.

I'm hesitating on redoing my bath, but it's really showing its age (tub and tile mostly).

Well, it has the "builder brass" fixtures and all of the 4x4 porcelain tile on the counter top, carpet on the floor.....no, it does kinda scream "OUTDATED". They aren't beat up, but lets face it, they are pushing 30 years old!

Our house was built in '73 or so, and other neighbors' houses were built when yours was. We're seeing the 1980's homes get new kitchen and baths.

In fact, our neighbor is getting a new bath designed by our mutual kitchen designer, and I have to say, I'm a tad jealous!

I'd be interested in getting the perspective of a R/E agent. Any advice on what you are seeing with your buyers in todays market. Is one able to ask a higher price if the baths/kitchen are updated?

The short answer is no...You will get more money but not as much as you spend.

The long answer is look it up yourself, Remodeling cost to value report

What bry says. You'll not get 100% of your investment back, and certainly not "more." It will, however, allow you to ask a slightly higher sales price and MAY result in a quicker sale.

Thanks for that! I suspected as much, but always good to get affirmation. Many times, a new buyer wants to find a home that is move in ready....Not one that needs time, money and work before they can be comfortable. I appreciate your input!

As AtomicJay noted, don't underestimate the value of a faster sale. In real estate there are two important reasons to spend money (1) increase value, and (2) faster sale. There is a lot of value in being on the market days instead of months.

Do it only if you really want updated bathrooms.

If you may be wondering what would be better to remodel. a Kitchen or a bath and you can only do one.....the Kitchen will give you more bang for your buck. It is the wow factor of the house......and the first impression a perspective buyer may get. Redoing a bathroom can also be more costly than updating a kitchen, unless you are planning a major re-haul of what you have now. There are a few tricks you may want to do like re-finishing cabinets, or if in bad condition, do a reface....and update the counter tops, and fixtures. it may end up costing about the same as a brand new cabinets but it takes less time. Re-doing a shower has layers of steps and can get costly based on the configuration, the kind of tile, and the cost of fixtures. To be sure you have the money to finish the job right, start a list of what you want to do, and begin doing your homework and price all materials. Check with a contractor for the work you want done, get a bid in writing and also check how much permits will run.

My opinion is to change the flooring. NO ONE likes carpet in the bathroom. Talk about nasty. Plus, bathrooms arent near the square footage of a great room or large bedroom, so the product cost will not be so much. Not sure if it will make more money, but it will help it sell.

Agree with what has been written.

You'll get some of your remodeling money back, but more importantly the house will likely sell faster. It's a matter of getting rid of people's objections, getting rid of the "eeewwwwww" factor.

"Carpet in the bathroom? 'Ewwwwwwwww'."

Now the prospective buyers are on the hunt for other "ewwwww" items.

If things are sound, you can leave them as is. Just make sure they are CLEAN.

You can buy a decent vanity with countertop and an already installed sink bowl for $400, add a $50 faucet and there you go. Bright, shiny, new and (hopefully) tasteful. Pull up the carpet and replace with a decent looking floor for another couple hundred.

Don't make any stylistic statements with your remodel. Just keep things clean. Clean lines, easy colors, chrome fixtures.

Bringing a realtor in for a pre-remodel walk-through s a great idea. Let the realtor know that you're not going to do a whole house remodel, you're simply looking to eliminate objections.

Depends on your market too. Are there any houses in your neighborhood that are on the market? If they have an open house, do a walk-through and check out the competition.

Good luck!

Mongo- I hate old bathrooms that can't be cleaned up to look nice. That's where our tub is at. The finish is worn through and despite us being fastidious about cleaning, that darn tub looks bad, like it's dirty.

Ugh, what to do... I don't want to pay hundreds to refinish an old tub while the rest of that bath needs to be redone (it looks ok, but needs an overhaul).

The first, very first thing we did when we moved into our house, was get the master shower pan refinished and pull out the old toilets that just wouldn't clean up no matter what we did.

Either do the bathrooms now...for YOU to enjoy, or skip the remodeling mess and sell for less. If you improve, just replace 'in place'. Don't get into moving plumbing or walls. I'd only expect to see 'updated'. You probably don't have the space to compete with the 20 X 20 bathrooms you see in some new builds -- nor is the buyer for your home likely to find it in similar houses.

Many years ago a neighbor/realtor discouraged me from replacing a linoleum kitchen floor with fancy tile. She said the market for our 1950's era development didn't support that expense. We did replace old windows and put in insulation -- for our own comfort. About ten years later I did strip wallpaper and add new light fixtures to our three bathrooms before selling. Our buyer did a partial teardown!

I also would add that if your house has something unique or spectacular about it; i.e., location, view, etc.,then you can be less "perfect" because you have something not everyone else has so you are not necessarily "competing" with everyone else on a level field and buyers will overlook some stuff in order to get that "special" thing your house has that other houses in your area/price range don't have. If it's totally cookie cutter you may have to be a little more "perfect". Just from my own experience.

A DIY tiles floor after ripping out the carpet will more than pay for itself. If you are handy, then you can definately get your money back, and stay busy with a hobby, all at the same time. If you have to pay labor though, you get to enjoy shiny and new and a faster sale.

It's 5 years of your life and you have to live somewhere. You could put up with these bathrooms for those 5 years or you could do things to your house that you can enjoy. I put up with stuff for over 20 years. This year I did it all. How many times did we say we should have done at least some of this sooner. We are totally enjoying all the updates.

Remodeling should be done for you and your family unless you are a flipper and it's your business. I once ( hundreds of years ago) was a RE agent. You will have those who want to get a bargain and those who want turn key ready to go. You have no control over that part. So you might as well use your home the way you and your family want to and be happy. No reno is better than a questionable one. And brass is making a comeback, why I will never know, but that's just me.