Remodeling a bathroom can be a highly rewarding home renovation, both in terms of practical and subjective benefits. However, bathroom remodels sometimes require a considerable investment of time and money.

How can you get the most value out of your bathroom remodel, pushing your return on investment (ROI) higher?

The ROI Equation

ROI attempts to approximate how much value you’re going to get out of a home improvement, compared to what you invest in it. According to Salvation Home Remodeling, a trusted contractor, there are many types of value that bathroom remodels can offer: “Remodeling your bathroom will likely increase the value and potential selling price of your home and make it more attractive to prospective buyers at the same time. On top of that, you may be able to prevent or mitigate certain issues related to your bathroom and enjoy it until it’s time to sell the house.”

You’ll compare all of these benefits against the cost of the remodel to determine your total ROI. So what steps can you take to get even more value out of your bathroom or model?

Planning in Advance

Ultimately, ROI is a function of costs and benefits, and maximizing ROI is a matter of balancing the equation in your favor. Planning in advance can help you reduce costs strategically while simultaneously maximizing the potential payoff.

· Budget. Bathroom remodels typically start at $5,000, and they only get more expensive. If you have a strict upper limit for what you’re willing to spend on the bathroom remodel, set it now and start thinking about how you can maximize this money. If you’re more flexible with your budget, think critically about the potential costs and payoffs of each individual decision.

· Priorities. What are your personal priorities? Are you more interested in having the perfect bathroom experience for yourself and your family? Or are you more interested in maximizing the attractiveness and sale price of your home? What sacrifices are you willing to make to get what you want?

· Time horizon. You should also think about your time horizon. The value of your home isn’t going to mean much until you actually move to sell it. So how soon are you going to sell it and how quickly will you need to sell it?

Choosing the Right Professionals

You can get much more ROI out of your bathroom remodel by choosing the right professionals to work with.

· Options. First, think about what options are available to you through this individual contractor or company. Will this person be able to accomplish everything you want? Are there any limitations in their capabilities that will be relevant to you?

· Price. Obviously, you’ll need to think about price as well. Some contractors are going to be cheaper than others, but do keep in mind that sometimes, better quality work is more expensive.

· Experience and past results. Can this person prove that they know what they’re doing? Can you look at past bathroom remodels as evidence of their expertise?

· Reviews and testimonials. Can you look at reviews and testimonials from previous customers to get a feel for the quality of work this contractor does?

· Communication. And how is their communication? Does this contractor return your phone calls quickly? Do they answer your questions honestly and transparently?

· Timeline and availability. Also investigate timeline and potential availability. If your contractor can’t start the project for several months, you may have to look for someone else.

Know What You Can Safely Cut

Unless your budget is practically unlimited, you’re likely going to have to make sacrifices. There are some features you may not be able to afford and certain elements that may not be worth the money. You’ll be able to make much more effective decisions with respect to bathroom remodel ROI if you know what you can safely cut. Also keep in mind that skimping on quality is a bad idea with respect to certain bathroom installations.

Consider Appearance to Others

If you’re selling your home in the near future, you’ll need to think about how your bathroom looks to outside observers. Is it neutrally attractive, potentially appealing to a broad range of possible audiences? Does it go with the decor and vibe of the rest of the house?

Think Long Term

To complete your ROI estimate, you need to think about the long term. How is this investment going to pay off in the next few months? The next few years? What about decades from now? Your bathroom remodel is typically a one-time cost, but it’s going to pay dividends well into the future.

There is no single right approach to remodeling a bathroom, even if you know all your goals and limitations in advance. Thoughtfully considering ROI and fully exploring all your options can help you make the most of this investment.