When renovating a home, if there is space to add a full or half bathroom, it’s worth the investment, according to Realtor James Savas of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Commonwealth in Belmont.

“It adds a huge amount of value,” said Savas.

A new full bathroom can add approximately $50,000 to a home’s value and a half bathroom can add $20,000, he said

The majority of buyers want at least one-and-a-half bathrooms. Selling a single family home with only one bathroom will appeal to a limited pool of buyers, said Realtor Wendy Oleksiak with Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty in Hingham.

Savas said if a homeowner is planning to sell their home, it’s worth updating an outdated bathroom and there are ways to do it for $5,000 or less.

“It’s good money spent,” he said.

Oleksiak said buyers today are hesitant to take on a renovation, given the recent uptick in costs of both supplies and "make me do it pricing" from contractors who can choose projects due to demand.

Michael Battista is president of Monique’s Bath Showroom in Watertown, which has been in the luxury bathroom business for more than 40 years. He said there are many things for a homeowner to consider when it comes to a bathroom project and much homework to be done.

First, he said, a homeowner needs to think about the style they want: traditional, transitional, contemporary, modern, industrial, etc.

“Contemporary products are our most popular products sold. People are mixing styles as well as materials,” said Battista.

For instance, the industrial look — mixing woods, metals and fabrics — is very popular.

“Larger, more spa-like bathrooms is what people are hoping to achieve,” said Battista.

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Monique’s does not perform any labor. They only supply products, which Battista said could run as little as $1,500 for a quality replacement faucet, toilet and shower valve sold in their showroom, or as high as $20,000 if someone is looking at Monique's luxury lines of the same products.

A new vanity, medicine cabinet and tub/shower adds another $1,500 to $20,000, said Battista.

Second, Battista said homeowners need to have an idea of what their budget is for fixtures and finishes.

“Typically, contractors include an allowance for these items. The allowances are for the most part based on lower end finishes and customers can get a bit of sticker shock when they find things they would love and find out one item can blow their allowance,” said Battista.

Lauren Capitani, owner of Abode Well Designs in Belmont, says updating a bathroom can be done for as little as a few hundred dollars.

Painting, updating lighting, hardware, mirrors and window treatments can refresh an older bathroom and give it a different feel, she said.

If you have $2,000 to $3,000 to spend, Capitani recommends also replacing the vanity, toilet and faucets.

On the other hand, if a homeowner wants to change out the tile and possibly rearrange the bathroom to improve its layout, the cost will go up considerably.

A standard, three-piece bathroom project (sink, toilet, shower) is $10,000 to $15,000, including the plumbing, said Capitani. 

“Once you start moving stuff is when it gets really expensive. Toilets are the most expensive and hardest to move,” said Capitani.

Capitani said the choice a homeowner makes on how much to spend on a bathroom renovation depends on how much longer they plan to live in the house.

“If you think you are going to move in the next five to 10 years, then you want to be thinking about home value,” she said.

If a house needs a lot of work, then it probably isn’t worth gutting the bathroom, she said.

"Whatever you put in, will come back into your home value. It really depends on your plans," said Capitani.

Often times, when something is popular, it is a trend, according to Capitani. She warns homeowners to beware of trends that may go out of style sooner than later.

There are some trends that don't go out of style, according to Capitani, such as wallpaper for a half bath.

Two current trends are cozy or spa-like with mixed surfaces and heated floors, said Capitani.

All white bathrooms, granite and oversized tubs have trended out, whereas vessel sinks and floating vanities are also going out of style, according to Capitiani.

Soaking tubs are definitely in, according to Capitani.

Black or brass fixtures and colored cabinets such as navy blue or dark green are currently trending, she said.

When selecting tile, go with neutrals; it could deter sellers if it’s a crazy color.

“If you are renovating a bathroom, think about the next five to 10 years. Will it look extremely outdated in 10 years?” said Capitani.

Capitani recommends when renovating, think about the storage space you need before you lose it.

Double sinks are only worth doing if you have the counter space, she said. If you are going to lose needed counter space, then it’s not worth doing them. 

Pay attention to where windows and lighting are located when planning a new bathroom.

Also, make sure you have lower level and brighter level lighting in the bathroom.

"Variable lighting is very important," said Capitani.

Oleksiak said homeowners should also consider handicap accessibility when renovating a bathroom, such as the addition of grab bars and shower benches.

Capitani said no matter what, bathrooms should be user-friendly and homeowners should think about how they are going to use the bathroom when they design their plans for the renovation.

"If the house is likely to appeal to buyers with children, a tub is important. If it's a ranch that might mostly appeal to buyers looking for one story living, a tub can be a safety concern,” said Oleksiak.

A house should have at least one tub, according to Savas, especially when it comes to resale value.

Families that don’t take baths and prefer showers don’t need two bathtubs and can turn one of the tubs into an oversized shower, said Capitani.

Tubs are cheaper to put in, but showers are more economical to run, said Capitani.

Bathrooms have to be located near the home’s plumbing stack, according to Capitani.

Also, ventilation is important when considering adding a bathroom. If it’s in an area that has no window, make sure it has good ventilation.

Capitani recommends reading the reviews of items you buy for bathrooms that are ready-made such as vanities. When reading manufacturer reviews, she said to make sure they are current, said Capitani.

She also does not recommend cabinets made with particle board because they will warp over time due to the moisture in a bathroom.