Budget Bathroom Brush-Ups For Any Landlord
Posted on: 6 July 2016
If your rental property is aging and needs some updating, completing a full remodel might be outside your maintenance budget. However, failing to update rooms like the bathroom or kitchen can cost you money when it comes to trying to attract new renters or increase the rent. The good news is that you can remodel a bathroom with less money than you might expect. Here are 5 great ways to freshen it up while saving money.
Paint. One of the cheapest makeovers you can do to a bathroom is to give it a fresh coat of paint. If it's a small room or lacks much natural sunlight, try using a light base color -- ivory, cream, bright white or pastel -- with just accents or trim of a bolder color. Use a high quality paint with a satin finish to maintain the best look without succumbing to moisture damage.
Change Fixtures. Swapping out old, damaged or outdated fixtures throughout the bathroom can also give it a fresh look. Such hardware -- including faucets, cabinet and drawer pulls, shower heads, towel racks and light fixtures -- can usually be found in a home improvement store relatively inexpensively.
Refinish Instead of Replace. If the rental unit's bathtub is old but solidly constructed, consider redoing it instead. Having a bathtub refinished, such as by Carefree Koatings, or professionally relined(if your budget is a little bigger) can save you a lot of money and still provide a tub that looks new. Refinishing involves sanding, repairing cracks or chips and then repainting the tub itself -- a good choice for budget-minded landlords.
Upcycle. If you can't afford all new pieces, try adding some vintage chic by shopping for one-of-a-kind pieces or used fixtures. You can often find antique hardware or a unique light fixture at local home goods recycling stores. You may even be able to locate a replacement tub or toilet that looks better than yours!
Make a Focal Point. Draw attention away from how small or basic the bathroom is by adding an eye-catching focal point. This could include a fun hanging pendant light, bold stripes on an accent wall or a piece of eclectic wall art.
Whether you can accomplish just one of these suggestions or all 5, the end result will be an improvement that potential renters will appreciate. And because you can do most of these updates in as little as an afternoon's worth of work, it's an improvement you and your wallet will appreciate as well.
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