If you have the time and the budget for it, then year-round is “the right time” for improvements to your property. Whether it’s residential or commercial, bathroom updates are one of the best moves that you can make to please your renters… and you don’t have to shell out too much money to accomplish it!
Don’t Stress About These Bathroom Updates
“More often than not, a few simple and inexpensive upgrades can add tremendous value to the property.” You don’t have to do a complete renovation in order to impress your renters or to increase the value of your commercial or residential property. In fact, you’d be surprised how much a few changes can do for your valuation. So, where do you begin? As mentioned above, bathroom upgrades will give you a lot of bang for your buck, so consider that first.
A bathroom gets a lot of traffic no matter what kind of property you have, and this is part of why it’s so important to keep it updated, functional, and visually appealing (or, at least, not unappealing). Whether they’re big or small, full or half-bath, there are a number of changes that you can make to increase function and style. Your renters will be surprised how big a difference it makes!
When was the last time that the walls were painted? A fresh coat of paint in a “trendy” color (right now, neutrals, especially grays, are popular) can make it seem like an entirely new bathroom. If you’d rather change to something timeless, then at least pick a lighter color to make it appear a little bigger and airier than it is. A dark color can make people feel as if the walls are closing it on them, but a stark white can seem too sterile.
“After years of wear and tear, the grout between tiles and surrounding the bathtub can start to look icky.” Freshen up this part of the bathroom by cleaning them with a solution of bleach, but if that doesn’t work, you may need to re-grout entirely. Luckily, this process is quick and inexpensive, so you shouldn’t need to bring in an outside hire to complete it.
Are the fixtures old, rusted, and out of date? Are the light bulbs fluorescent, flickering, or just not energy efficient? If any of these are true, then it’s likely that you need to upgrade your lighting as a part of these bathroom updates. Make sure that the person carrying this out is a professional, since it may involve electricity and wiring, which can be dangerous. If you don’t have a qualified worker on your team, then consult a lighting contractor first.
What’s the status of the vanity (where the sink typically is)? “Try looking for a vanity that fits your requirements at a building supply warehouse, where you can find perfectly good pieces for far less than they cost in the store.” If you really have no budget at all for this, then you can just do the same to the vanity as you did to the room and give it a new coat of paint. Updating the color will at least make it appear as if you’re keeping up with things and that you want your renters to live or work in nice, modern conditions.
There are some small details that you might not even remember when carrying our bathroom updates, such as updating towel racks, drawer pulls, and more. These items don’t usually draw any attention, but swapping them out with metals or finishes that match the rest of your changes will keep things consistent and make it appear as if the whole place is being renovated, even if it isn’t. A lot of this kind of work is a mix of replacing, repainting, and repairing, so don’t feel overwhelmed when you’re beginning!
Property management is difficult enough when there isn’t more work to do, and adding updates to units can make things seem busier than ever. Make time for those upgrades, though, by reducing the amount of time that you have to spend on other tasks. You can accomplish this with the SKYLINE Property Management and Accounting Software system. SKYLINE is guaranteed to improve property performance, increase return to your investors, and exceed your tenants’ expectations. While this software is managing the details of your property on its powerful, electronic system, you can start to plan some updates for your building.