Master Bathroom suites

Master bathroom suites are suppose to be one of the best areas to improve by many experts in the field. For the most part, I agree with this statement. But in some cases, they are dead wrong. Make sure you know when it is a good time to add a bathroom or change the bathroom and learn how bathrooms are classified.

A full bathroom consists of four parts. The toilet, the tub, the shower, and the sink. Each one of these sections is considered a quarter part. Add four quarters and, presto, you'll get a full bathroom. If you just have a toilet and a sink, this is considered two quarters or a 1/2 a bathroom. One toilet or One sink and it will be called a quarter bathroom. If you have a shower installed with no bathtub, the bathroom will be called a 3/4 bathroom. So, now that you understand the different parts of a bathroom, let's get to the good parts. For the appraisal, usually, 3/4 bathrooms will be considered full bathrooms and quarter bathrooms will be noted, but not considered in the value.

Will a Master bathroom suite increase home value?

When selling

If your house is a newer home, chances are good that installing a new bathroom will not increase home value. In fact, I'd be willing to bet that you will be losing money if you remove your bathroom and replace the bathroom with a newer one in the same home. This is because most newer homes offer functional, new bathrooms, just like the one that you removed.

In fact, I went to a home like this where they removed the upper bathroom from one side of the home (because they thought it was too small) and moved the entire bathroom and plumbing to the other side of the room. These types of improvements do nothing but cost you money. Don't do these types of improvements unless you plan on spending a very long time in the home and the money is worth it to you, because there is a high probability that you will NEVER get your money back when you sell (or refinance).

If you are updating a bathroom for a new home, there will be less of a chance that you will get your money back. This is because your home is newer. So if you spend the money on changing the tile color or what have you, it wont make much of a difference. This is because you already have a new home and a new bathroom. Any changes will be expensive and you will not recoup your investment. So if you don't plan on staying in your home and enjoying the fruits of your labor, don't do this.

If you have an older home, will installing a bathroom increase your home value.

In this case, you'll have a higher probability of increasing your home value when you install a bathroom in an older home, but let me explain.

If your home is an older home and your home only offers one bathroom on the main level and all of the bedrooms are upstairs, an additional bathroom located upstairs will improve the functional usability of your home. This is because the market will usually expect that there be a bathroom on the level with all or one of the bedrooms. So while these types of improvements are expensive, there is a high probability that you'll get your money back.

If you are planning on removing a bathroom from one side of a room and putting in a bathroom on the other side of the room, this may be a waist of money. If the bathroom is already updated and you are tearing apart a perfectly good bathroom and moving the plumbing, there is a good chance that you will lose the money that you've put into the new bathroom. This is because you still have one bathroom and the number of bathrooms and the functional issues of the bathroom are still the same. Don't do this unless it improves the functional usability of the home.

When buying

1 story home- you want the bedrooms to be located on one side of the home and the bathrooms to be located next to the bedrooms. You do not want to have to walk through the kitchen or one of the bedrooms to get to the bathroom. You want to access the bathroom from the hall way. Any other set up will, most likely be a functional issue.

2 story home- You want the bathrooms with the showers and tubs, and toilets next to the bedrooms and on the same level. If you have to go down stairs in the middle of the night to go potty, then you did not think this one through good enough. If your company (guest) has to go upstairs to your bathroom on the second level, you didn't think this through. You will want at least a 1/2 bathroom on the main level with the kitchen, living room and dining area. This way you or your guest will not have to go all of the way upstairs to find a bathroom.

Basement bathrooms- If you have bedrooms in the basement, you'll want bathrooms for the same reasons as with two story homes, but bathrooms in the basement are usually valued much less than bathrooms above grade. In general, this is true for all improvements. This is why I usually tell home owners to finish all of the upgrades above ground level first before you work on the basement.

For updating and remodeling- look for homes that have been updated or remodeled. If the price is comparable to other homes with similar square footage, etc, it may be a good buy. As long as you are not paying for the full cost of the updates. Many times, tile is considered hire quality, but a good fiberglass insert is easier to clean and is acceptable for average homes in the market. If you are in the market for a higher end home, tile and granite is common for the bathrooms, kitchens, entry, etc. Walk around the toilet and in the bathroom to be sure the floor feels solid. If the floor gives, it may mean that water is getting to the sub-floor and it is rotting. Ask for this to be repaired or get a price reduction, or the cost of the repairs will be yours to make when you buy the home.

When refinancing