Why You Want To Avoid Having The Most Unique Toilet On The Block
According to Badeloft, a tasteful bathroom remodel could increase the value of your home by upward of 40%, and upgrading your toilet can up your overall value by a full percentage point if executed correctly. However, As a homeowner undergoing renovations, you should avoid prioritizing "unique" toilet features over practical features because the decision might veer away future buyers — while also making the toilet's upkeep more expensive and complicated.
There are several expensive toilet models on the market, each offering a slew of amenities and features intended to appeal to tech-savvy homeowners looking to enhance their bathroom experiences. But with many of these models priced in the thousands, are they truly worth the excess cost? Once a toilet's upgrades reach a certain threshold, the effect they have on a house's overall value begins to plateau, and the extra dollars spent likely won't feel as worthwhile several months or years into the future. Here's more on why spending extra for a unique toilet may backfire in the long term, along with some alternative courses of action when remodeling your bathroom.
Over-the-top features may scare away buyers
When implementing interior upgrades, it's important to take note of the features that potential homebuyers want to see in their future properties. Nowadays, buyers are attracted to sleek features that make a bathroom feel up-to-date. When it comes to toilets, consumers want to save money wherever they can — while still investing in a reliable product that will serve them for years to come. More specifically, buyers also look to reduce water consumption with their toilets and promote more sanitary bathroom habits. However, a bathroom that is far more updated than the rest of the house can appear tacky and even devalue your home. Also, adding appliances that only appeal to your niche interests only gives future owners more to change once moved in. So avoid going overboard with the luxury appliances, instead opting for simple upgrades that enhance the space functionally and aesthetically.
This doesn't mean homebuyers are completely averse to incorporating smart plumbing features into their bathrooms. The smart toilets of today come equipped with amenities homeowners want, such as motion-sensored seats, built-in lights for simplified nighttime usage, and automated flushing technology that uses less water compared to previous models. While these toilets can reach astounding prices, select models with basic features can cost a homeowner as little as a few hundred dollars — about the same price as a high-quality standard toilet. At the very least, look for affordable ways to upgrade the toilet you already have in order to avoid swapping it for a much pricier replacement.
Expensive to repair and install
As with most features and appliances in a house, the rarer the product, the more difficult it is to repair when the inevitable breakdown occurs. For state-of-the-art toilet models and those imported from around the world, parts are harder to come by, which typically make them more expensive while also driving up labor costs. Standard toilets cost homeowners around $100 to $200 to install. Their "smarter" counterparts, on the other hand, usually cost much more to install, since the models call for an electrical connection to your home in addition to a plumbing connection. While pricier, higher-quality toilets are less likely to break on a regular basis, their repairs can cost homeowners more in the long run.
Whether affording smart toilet technology is completely out of the question or automated features merely seem unappealing, there are still several varieties of standard toilets that can benefit your home's resale value while ushering your bathroom into the present day. Both one- and two-piece models, for instance, have their aesthetic advantages, though one-piece toilets are often considered more favorable while also being heavier, pricier, and more difficult to install. Installing a toilet with a push-button option for flushing — as opposed to a traditional lever — is another way to add a touch of modernity to a bathroom.
Other easy and cost-friendly ways to modernize your bathroom and up your home's value that don't involve toilets include repainting your walls, swapping out hardware for sleeker finishes, and upgrading light fixtures.