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Updating bathrooms for sale

3 years ago

Most of our house is been updated modern/contemporary style (grey and white) but our bathrooms are Mediterranean (yellow/brown). We’re listing for sale soon but a full remodel (and retailing everything) won’t be possible.

We’re considering painting the tile and floor and putting some money into vanities, lighting, etc. Or leave shower as-is and replace the floor tile. Any suggestions/ideas?

Comments (22)

  • 3 years ago

    Darn spell check… we won’t be able to redo tile for everything.

  • 3 years ago

    What do you mean by "most of our house?"

  • 3 years ago

    Do not paint the tile - that would be a definite "NO" if I were buying the house. Cost effective solutions to make the room "show well".....Remove the cabinet from above the toilet and add artwork instead - that will make your room look 10x larger. Declutter. Clean all of the grout. Update the mirror and lighting (and sink/cabinet it you can afford it). Add a white shower curtain, white fluffy rug, and white towels - definitely get rid of the toilet seat cover! Paint the room (read Maria Killiam's blog about colors that work well with pinkish-beige flooring).

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Is the likely buyer of your house going to be another young family? If so, I would leave the cabinet over the toilet in place but remove everything. Maybe stack some face clothes and a bath toy on the open shelf. I would show off the bathroom as being easy to keep clean and orderly, super functional.

  • 3 years ago

    As mentioned, I would probably just clean well, declutter and paint the walls maybe.

  • 3 years ago

    By most of the house - I mean we’ve upgraded nearly everything over the years (from flooring to doors, kitchen, etc) into more of a clean/modern looking style. We put off the bathrooms for too long and now scrambling to figure out what to do.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    I agree, mainly clear everything out.

    Definitely do not paint wall or floor. tile.

    If there is a rod, hang a simple, white shower curtain; and the simplest white, plastic liner would be the very best thing you can hang.

    If you have some money to spend, buy this light fixture:









    And this faucet:



    It does not matter if the gold doesn’t ‘match’ your shower fixtures and hardware, You can mix metals; and the gold works with the colors and elements in the space. This light fixture and faucet will immediately upgrade your bathroom. Along with the simple, white plastic shower curtain liner. If you have to choose between the light fixture and faucet - just get the light.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    And just to add - grey and white is over. It has really been way overdone. I don’t know where you are located in the world, and there are areas that have not yet received the memo. But grey, as a word, no longer automatically means ”modern”. And warm colors (and, yes, including gold/beige) are back. So I would not worry about the bathrooms. A buyer will either be relieved that everything in the house is not grey and white and the bathrooms will be fine for them - or they will redo the bathrooms to their own taste. But for sure clear out the room and you can consider doing the things I suggested.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Clean, clean clean. If everything functions properly (and it look like it) Clean some more, remove the cabinet, maybe paint, white rugs, touch up the grout, white towels and a simple shower curtain. We sold out 20 year old home with the original white tile quickly. We did swap out the vanities tho (diy) because they were honey oak. If they were white I wouldnt have. Price your home right and you won’t have a probem selling. Make sure the bathroom smells clean. Good luck

    turns out that we didnt even change the hall bath, just cleaned and decluttered. Original 20 yr old bath.

    Also, the listing pictures are what gets people to come look at your home. Ours were so good, I would buy my home again. Every room should be super clean and decluttered, at least for the listing photos. Our realtor had an outstanding photographer who brought out the beauty (from natural light and architecture/landscape) that we didnt see in years.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Add warm colors to the rest of the home so that the bathrooms look like they belong. Warm woods tend to tone down and warm up all the dated cool grays.

  • 3 years ago

    Remove all the clutter - the wall unit and especially that icky toilet seat cover. Get white shower curtain, white fluffy towels. If you want to paint, then white walls.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    I agree - white walls, fluffy white mat, pretty white shower curtain ( maybe with an ivory band through it and white towels. Make sure to close the toilet for photos and when there are showings.

    Good luck!

  • 3 years ago

    True white or something more in the beige family? If we were to try a color, what color could work?

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    Extensive updating bathrooms for higher resale is rarely cost effective. Clean 'em up nice and let the new owner decide please.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    The color that is there isnt bad, Id do a slightly off white, eggshell? Keep it bright and clean in there. Theres a lot of ”i actually live here” clutter going on in that pic. Once you clean and its empty with the clean white accessories, you're going to wonder why you’re moving.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Give it personality to capture attention/take away tile’s impact if you want to update, but won’t make a difference in someone wanting to buy home.

    Remove cabinet above toilet, replace lighting and mirror. Stencil (see info below), paint vanity, add a shower curtain and Turkish towels.







    https://www.randrathome.com/2019/09/100-room-challenge-powder-room-reveal.html?m=1

  • 3 years ago

    That bathroom isnt selling the home, I wouldnt dump money into permanent fixures that the next guy is going to rip out. That bathroom is a remodel from the get go and a potential buyer will take that into the calculation. Its my opinion tho, Im not a realtor.

  • PRO
    3 years ago

    From my experience with the housing market for the past few years the condition of your bathrooms may make little difference. Houses have been flying off the market no matter what the condition. Talk with your real estate agent and ask his/her opinion about updating prior to listing. Good luck!

  • 3 years ago

    No to painting tile. That would make me wary. Just declutter and clean. Take the fuzzy toilet cover off, as people will assume it is icky. Put out white towels and I stead of the gray bath rug, just one of those thick towel like rugs like a hotel has that can be draped over tub when not in use.

  • 3 years ago
    last modified: 3 years ago

    Ask a few realtors with experience in your market. The standard answer here is to declutter and clean and it is the standard answer for a reason. Most people are served well by doing just that. However, the best answer for you, depends on your situation, your market, and your home.

  • 3 years ago

    Every "white" paint color has an "undertone color". When at the BM paint store, tell them you want a white with a "beige" undertone. You could buy a small sample to try it out. You don't want a "true white".

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