Is your bathroom putting buyers off?
A bathroom doesn’t need to be brand new to impress buyers, but it does need to feel clean and cared for. A few simple changes can improve its appearance and stop minor issues becoming unnecessary concerns.
Bathrooms are rarely the main reason someone buys a home, but they can certainly affect how buyers feel about it.
A clean, bright and cared-for bathroom suggests the property has been looked after. Mould, tired sealant and clutter can have the opposite effect. Even when the problem is fairly minor, buyers may assume there’s damp, poor ventilation or a much larger job waiting for them.
You probably don’t need a new bathroom
If you’re preparing to sell, ripping out a perfectly usable bathroom is unlikely to be the best place to spend your money. You may not recover the full cost, and there’s no guarantee your choice of tiles, fittings or colours will suit the next owner anyway.
In most cases, the better option is to deal with the obvious issues and present the room properly.
Start with the basics:
- Remove mould and limescale
- Replace discoloured sealant
- Clean or refresh tired grout
- Repair dripping taps or broken fittings
- Make sure the extractor fan works
- Clear away cleaning products and half-empty bottles
- Put out clean, matching towels
None of this is particularly exciting, but it will make more difference than adding decorative touches to a bathroom that still looks dirty or neglected.
Think about the photographs
Bathrooms can be difficult to photograph because they’re often small, bright and full of reflective surfaces.
A crowded sink, wet towels or bottles lined around the bath will make the room feel smaller. Clear the surfaces and leave out just a few well-chosen items, such as a soap dispenser, a plant or neatly folded towels.
You don’t need to buy expensive branded toiletries purely for the photographs. Matching refillable bottles can create the same effect without spending much at all.
The aim isn’t to create a pretend hotel bathroom. It’s simply to help buyers see the space rather than everything stored in it.
Add warmth without overdoing it
Many bathrooms are mostly white or grey, which can look quite stark once they’re cleared.
A little colour through towels, a bathmat or a framed print can soften the room. A wooden bath rack, small plant or simple piece of artwork may also help, provided the room doesn’t start to feel staged for the sake of it.
Keep it simple. Buyers should notice the bathroom, not the collection of candles arranged around it.
Deal with anything that suggests a bigger problem
Black mould, peeling paint or water marks shouldn’t be ignored.
Buyers may not know whether they’re looking at condensation or a more serious leak, so they’ll often assume the worst. If there is an underlying issue, get it investigated before marketing. Painting over it without dealing with the cause is likely to create a problem later during the survey or conveyancing process.
A bathroom doesn’t need to be brand new to present well. It needs to feel clean, functional and looked after.
That won’t suddenly add tens of thousands of pounds to the value, but it can remove an unnecessary objection and give buyers more confidence in the rest of the property.
If you’re considering selling and would like practical advice on preparing your home for the market, get in touch.
