In any home, two rooms have the most potential to affect the property’s appeal and value when it is put on sale: the kitchens and bathrooms. Kitchens are valued because they function as a hub where people socialize and meals are prepared. Bathrooms are important because it is where people go to relax and unwind with a hot shower. The condition of a home’s kitchen and bathroom influences its market value.

Most homeowners recognize this. That is why kitchens and bathrooms top the list of remodeling projects people do in their homes. When remodeling their homes, most owners, if they could, would do both the bathroom and kitchen at the same time. But this is often not possible due to the cost and time constraints. So for homeowners forced to choose between a bathroom remodel and a kitchen remodel, which one should they choose?

To find the best answer to the question, homeowners should first answer some questions. What is the purpose of the remodel? Is it to enhance the home’s appearance and value in preparation for selling it? Or is it to improve its functionality and enhance the owner’s enjoyment of the property? 

Homeowners who are not about to sell their property will have more freedom to choose what they want compared to those who want to sell.

Dawson Management shares some advice on what owners should consider when deciding whether they should remodel the kitchen or bathrooms first.

Cost and Budget

How much a project costs and how much the owner is willing to spend on it is the number one factor. As a rule, kitchen remodels tend to cost more than bathroom remodels, with a minor remodel costing around $19,000 and $57,000, for a major one. 

That is in contrast to $17,000 for a minor bathroom remodel and $40,000 for a major one. But these costs are by no means final; it is very possible to complete a decent remodel of the kitchen and bathroom for a fraction of the above amounts. But by-and-large, kitchen remodels tend to have a bigger effect on the home’s resale value because kitchens are more visible than bathrooms.

How easy and disruptive the project will be

While a bathroom or kitchen remodel is going on, bathing and eating cannot go on normally in the respective spaces. It is important to think of which room the family could not live without for the duration of the project. Bathrooms are more difficult to live without, even with a portable toilet, unless the home has more than one bathroom. Here is more detailed information regarding a bathroom remodel.

On the other hand, installing a makeshift kitchen, having food delivered, or eating out during a kitchen remodel is fairly doable. On the aspect of how easy the project will be, this will depend on the scope of the remodel.

Speed of Completion

How many days or weeks will the project take? The longer long it takes, the more disruptive it is going to be and the greater the likelihood that it will cost the owner in other ways. A medium-scale bathroom remodel will take three to four weeks to complete. Although this depends on how many components are being changed out. 

If changing the bathroom’s flooring, tiles, and plumbing is included in the remodel, it could take more than two months. But, generally, a bathroom will take less time to remodel than a kitchen, but again this depends on how elaborate the project is.

Where people spend the most time

Homeowners differ significantly in the way they utilize their home’s bathroom and kitchen. If a family loves making gourmet meals in their kitchen, then the space will be highly-priced. But if they prefer to have food delivered to them every evening, then splurging on a kitchen remodel doesn’t make sense. 

Similarly, do the home’s occupants like to soak in bubble baths, or will a quick shower suffice for them? The lifestyle habits of the people who live in the home play a big role in deciding which projects will be more beneficial. But this factor depends on whether the home is about to be sold or not.

Effect on Home’s value

Due to kitchens being regarded as “the heart of the home,” kitchen remodels add more value than bathroom remodels. But this is not to say that the home’s value will increase in proportion to how much is spent on remodeling the kitchen.

There is a point where additional kitchen remodels will make a home more attractive but not necessarily more valuable. Rather than waste money on kitchen remodels that yield little result, it is better to divert the money into a bathroom remodel. That’s because, if the home’s kitchen is great but the bathroom is below average, the property’s price will be negatively affected.

In conclusion, deciding on whether a kitchen remodel or a bathroom remodel is the better choice depends on what the home currently lacks. Implementing upgrades based on what is needed to make a home more functional is by far the best way to approach home upgrades. Following this path ensures that the remodeling project will increase the home’s value and also make it more enjoyable.