Design Notes

Choosing Between A Kitchen Or Bathroom Remodel

Two rooms in any home 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 they are 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 homeowners undertake. When remodeling their homes, most owners would do both the bathroom and kitchen simultaneously if they could. However, this is often not possible due to cost and time constraints. So, for homeowners forced to choose between a bathroom and a kitchen remodel, which one should they choose?

To find the best answer, 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 than those who want to sell.

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

Cost and Budget

The number one factor is the cost of the project and the owner’s willingness to spend on it. As a rule, kitchen remodels tend to cost more than bathroom remodels, with a minor remodel costing around $19,000 and a major one costing around $57,000.

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 kitchen and bathroom remodel for a fraction of the above amounts. 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 ongoing, bathing and eating cannot normally occur in the respective spaces. It is essential to consider which room the family could not live without for the project’s duration. Bathrooms are more challenging 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. The project’s ease will depend on the scope of the remodel.

Speed Of Completion

How many days or weeks will the project take? The longer it takes, the more disruptive it will 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, depending on the number of components replaced.

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

Where People Spend The Most Time

Homeowners differ significantly in how 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 splurging on a kitchen remodel doesn’t make sense if they prefer to have food delivered to them every evening.

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 house play a significant role in determining which projects are most beneficial. But this factor depends on whether the home is about to be sold.

Effect On Home’s Value

Kitchens are regarded as “the heart of the home,” so they add more value than bathroom remodels. However, this does not mean that the home’s value will increase in proportion to the amount 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 results, 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 whether a kitchen or bathroom remodel is the better choice depends on the home’s current deficiencies. 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.

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