Beautiful, not basic: how your bathroom can help sell your home

Bathrooms are small, mighty and can add value to your property. Past research has shown buyers are willing to make a higher offer for a property where the bathroom has been recently refurbished.

Get it wrong, however, and your bathroom could harm your selling prospects. Multiple surveys have found mould and damp – commonly found in poorly ventilated bathrooms – could knock up to 20% off your home’s value. 

Don’t let perceptions spoil prospects

While it might not cost that much to correct, buyer perception matters. If they see black spots and watermarks, they may assume there’s a much bigger, underlying problem that could prove costly to put right.

For most sellers, a bathroom rip out isn’t required. Instead, there are some easy cosmetic tweaks that can lift the room from basic to beautiful.

Start clean & clutter free

You’ll want potential buyers to react positively when they see your bathroom in photos and in the flesh. As estate agents, we know that means only having essential toiletries on display, storing away cleaning items, displaying neatly folded fresh towels, not piles of soggy ones, and adding a designer touch.

So, what exactly is the designer touch? It’s the accessories that draw the eye and a décor that makes a room feel cared for. When prospective buyers look at your sink, they should see a beautiful soap dispenser and not toothpaste residue. And the overall look shouldn’t feel too clinical and stark, with colour accents that make the space feel inviting. 

A spotless bathroom suite is your starting point. Give everything a deep clean before you put your home on the market, paying attention to stubborn limescale, mouldy

sealant or grouting, watermarks, smears on mirrors and soap scum.

Next strip out clutter – empty shampoo bottles and cleaning products, cardboard loo rolls and clothes that should be in the laundry basket. You should only leave the essentials but even then, less is not always more.

Easy swaps to upgrade your bathroom

Selling your home needs a more curated approach to what’s on display. People love a spa-like bathroom, so you may need to edit the style of toiletries on display. 

The brown apothecary-style of Aesop’s bottles look stylish but at £34 for a handwash, it’s a false economy just to impress a purchaser. Thankfully there are some great dupes that will look amazing lined up in your shower. Try Lidl’s Deluxe Aromatic Body Cleanser in Citrus Melange at just £2.99, or M&S’s Apothecary range, starting from £7 for a hand wash.

If you want to add a pop of colour, decant your usual toiletries into reusable dispensers. Look out for matching toothbrush holders, tumblers and soap dishes to break up expanses of white.

Sell the spa vibe

Bathrooms are at the heart of the wellbeing movement, with people spending more time engaging in cleansing and bathing rituals than the usual quick shower. A bamboo bath rack can become a focal point – add a candle, a hand-crafted bar of soap and even a book to set the scene.

Picture perfect

Don’t overlook the power of art in the bathroom either. An oversize print or a series of small, framed pieces is perhaps all the character your bathroom needs. The impact can come from the art’s style, its colour or the choice of frame, and you don’t even have to break out the drill. Prop pictures up against a wall or on a window sill. Why not minimise your outlay by checking out local charity shops and boot fairs?

Don’t allow your bathroom to let down the wider appeal of your home. For more presentation advice and for an up-to-date valuation contact us.