Bathroom staging is perhaps the second most vital area to be prepared, bested only by the kitchen. Beautiful bathrooms are huge selling points in a home and the number and condition of your baths will really influence the value of offers that you will receive on your property.
More baths, larger baths, more updated baths and spa-like baths will all make potential buyers swoon, while outdated, worn, tiny or fewer baths will typically make a buyer strongly consider finding a better fit for their family.
Bathroom home staging is very important and luckily can usually be accomplished for a relatively small amount of money. This resource section provides all the knowledge you will ever need to successfully stage your bathrooms.
Bathroom Staging Woes
Bathroom home staging is not overly difficult. However, there are several common complaints and concerns which come up in virtually every bathroom home staging project. Here are some of the common issues that property sellers must face when staging a typical bathroom in their homes:
Keeping the room clean and neat, despite regular and constant use, can be a challenge. This is especially true if there are young children in the home.
Dealing with outdated fixtures and décor can be difficult.
Some sellers incorrectly feel that they need a complete bathroom makeover, when in reality, a few simple fixes will do the trick.
Learning what potential buyers are really looking for in a bathroom is crucial in order to achieve ideal aesthetics and functionality.
How to distribute money to upgrade and stage many baths in the home can only be accomplished by savvy sellers. Complete bathroom renovations can be terribly expensive, as well as time consuming.
Bathroom Home Staging Makeover
Of course, it is wonderful to be able to replace old or worn fixtures with all new materials in the bathrooms:
Dual pedestal or vanity sinks are a nice touch, especially for the master bath and any other large bath on a different level of the home. Spa tubs, Jacuzzi tubs, soaking tubs and whirlpools are all great, if you have the budget and room to accommodate them. Stand-alone showers with rain shower heads and steam features are real buyer pleasers. Frameless glass enclosures finish off the shower surround and provide a nice updated look. Quality tile work is always in high demand and the more tile a bath has, the more it may appeal to a buyer, especially when compared to other less water-friendly materials, such as drywall or particleboard. Finally, replacing dated light fixtures with contemporary efficient designs is an easy way to impact the space for minimal investment.
Bathroom Staging Applications
Barring a major renovation, there are many ways to improve the aesthetics of the bathroom with simple home staging strategies:
First, always make sure that the bathroom is spotlessly clean.
If you have an old tub or sink with rust or scratches, a quick coat of epoxy paint will make it look like new.
Make sure the caulking is fresh and clean with no mildew.
Keep your shower curtain or door open, whenever possible, to increase the perceived size of the room.
Make sure the paint is fresh and bright.
Keep windows unobstructed and window dressings simple and light.
Organize the closet with fresh linens and make sure to only put a few items inside, to maximize the impression of space.
Color-coordinate towels and accessories to the room décor and eliminate all the clutter from the vanity top and medicine cabinet. The less personal items you can leave about, the better.
Make sure that the room smells fresh and clean, using scented candles throughout. Do not put rugs on the toilet seat or on the floor in front of the toilet, but do place a nice rug in front of the sink.
Check out some special advice on staging a dedicated water closet.
Bathroom Enhancement Considerations
There is no way to describe how a buyer feels when they walk into a dirty, moldy or ill-kept bathroom. This should be the cleanest room in the home, bar none. I know that this can be a challenge, but twice daily spruce-ups, for 5 minutes each, will keep the area shiny and clean, day in and day out.
Take special care to ensure that the master bath is particularly appealing and well maintained. If you have to choose where to spend some money, dedicate the bulk of the budget to improving the master bathroom with upgrades or staging techniques.
A final tip is a simple fix: Take down wallpaper in the bathroom. It is virtually never an asset, but always a liability and is such as easy DIY project.
To become an expert in bathroom home staging, read my excellent book Learn Home Staging and use your new skills to begin a lucrative new career.
