Lorena Magallanes

It’s hard to know where exactly your renovation budget should go, and when your home has several rooms begging for updates, it’s important to manage funds correctly. Redoing your bathroom or opting for a kitchen remodel returns less on average than basic home maintenance like a new roof or siding. Windows are also high on the list for what updates pay off in the long run. But, that’s not to say that kitchens and bathrooms aren’t up there as big selling features. These are the areas where buyers dream big and can fall in love with a whole property based on its beautiful kitchen. In the construction world, these are the most expensive two rooms of the house.

Renovations that are trendy with buyers include walk-in showers in lieu of big bathtubs. Particularly if you’re in a condo or smaller space, using the square footage for a sleek shower simply makes more sense. A floor-to-ceiling steam shower demands attention these days, but if your older home is lacking in quantity of bathrooms, adding a second room would be of more interest. The first priority, above all else, is ensuring that the basic structural foundation of the home is secure. You need to resolve things like leaky plumbing, crumbling roofs or moldy basements before adding a glamorous second bath. Always putting yourself in the mind of a buyer helps determine what’s realistic. Most buyers will look for basic features and systems to be secure and will consider upgrading kitchen, bathrooms or interior design features themselves to suit their own tastes and budget.