Staging for a home sale? Don’t forget the bathroom

If you are planning to sell in the near future, consider making a few minor investments that could significantly enhance the appearance of your house or condo and make it more appealing to a buyer. Start with new paint throughout and new carpeting, which will probably involve reducing or removing clutter while the work is in progress. Note that the space will look larger with unnecessary items eliminated. Wash windows and replace shabby blinds or curtains. The appearance of your outdated kitchen can be greatly improved by replacing an old refrigerator and stove, and a few green plants or vase of flowers here and there will help.

Now, what about the bathroom? Once referred to as “the most neglected room in the house” — but no longer. According to Tropical Plumbing and Bath president Charlie Beeck, a Building Industry Association “Remodeler of the Year,” increased concerns about health and hygiene and “aging in place” are focusing attention on the bathroom.

“When we’re contacted either by the homeowner or a realtor to give a bathroom upgrade estimate — which, by the way, is free — what we typically find is a bathroom that hasn’t been remodeled for 30 years, or since the house was built. Fixtures are not only out of date but often damaged. For example, cracked porcelain, pitted chrome faucets and handles, broken tiles, a toilet that looks like it should be in a museum, and one of those cramped, dingy, old-style stall showers that the owner admits leaks, so there also may be a mildew problem.

“Walk-in showers are one of our specialties and they can be as simple or elaborate as the owner wants, but since their plan is to sell, they will probably choose to upgrade as inexpensively as possible,” adds Beeck. “However, I know from working with a number of realtors, that a really unhealthy looking, and probably unsafe, old bathroom can actually be a deal breaker. The appearance of the bathroom could also suggest underlying plumbing problems — the last thing a buyer wants to deal with. We can do selected bathroom upgrades as well as total remodeling to make the bathroom as safe as possible for all family members, with grab bars throughout, and since we are licensed contractors, we handle all the structural work and plumbing alterations as needed,” Beeck says.

A licensed Hawaii contractor for nearly two decades, Tropical Plumbing and Bath has received two Honolulu Star-Advertiser “Hawaii’s Best” first place awards. The company is currently offering a $1,500 discount on renovations. For information or a free consultation, call 808- 847-0970.

TROPICAL PLUMBING AND BATH
CONTACT 808-847-0970