Are you trying to decide on a remodel and not sure what you want to put money into? This post is going to compare different aspects of a kitchen and bathroom renovation to hopefully help you in your decision-making process. The reason I focus on kitchen and bathroom remodeling and not something like say, a basement or deck is because kitchens and bathrooms generally get more attention, and tend to be hotspots of the home.  The kitchen is where you cook and socialize with family and friends. Whereas bathrooms are about taking care of your bodies. You can go ahead and spend a great deal of money on a deck and it could go unnoticed, but invest in a kitchen or bathroom and you are bound to get compliments on your home.

WHICH IS CHEAPER?

Short answer: Bathroom

Pulling some figures from 2016, the average bathroom renovation costs $9,348 for small to medium-bathrooms. Smaller projects can cost between $3,500 and $7,000, whereas larger more elaborate projects can cost you $13,000 to more than $20,000. Most homeowners spend between $5,666 and $13,031 on a bathroom remodel.

Using the same set of data for 2016, the average Canadian homeowner reports spending an average of $20,556 on a kitchen remodel. Smaller kitchens costing between $10,000 and $15,000, which may include painting, refacing cabinets, sink upgrade, and installing a tile backsplash. Larger renovation projects that include custom cabinets, new flooring, high-end appliances, stone countertops etc., can run upwards of $30,000. The vast majority of Canadian homeowners, however, spend between $12,759 and $31,733.*

Which is less invasive?

Short answer: Kitchen (by just a tad bit, but it depends)

Since eating, bathing and doing your business are all equally important things, it’s a close call. If there was only one bathroom in the house and you were to choose between a kitchen and bathroom renovation, you could probably do without a kitchen for a while since you can go to restaurants, order delivery, or microwave and hotplate. 

On the other hand, if you only had one bathroom in the house, and it’s going to be out of commission for a bit, there are little to no alternatives. It’s going to be disruptive to your lifestyle. You could make friends with a neighbor for when nature calls or take advantage of a gym membership and use the showers there.

However, my answer would quickly change to a bathroom being less invasive if there was a second bathroom in the home. 

 

WHICH IS FASTER?

Short answer: Bathroom

You can expect a bathroom renovation to last between 2-3 weeks on average, given there are no major hiccups. Whereas a kitchen remodel really depends on what's being done. Minor upgrades can be done in about 2 weeks, however, a comprehensive kitchen renovation can vary anywhere between 4-12 weeks. Again, this all depends on the time for design, demo, lead-time for products and materials (custom products take longer), and installation.

 

WHICH IS BEST FOR RESALE?

Short answer: Kitchen

This is another "it depends" answer, it depends on your geographical area and what buyers are looking for. I recommend talking to a real estate agent in your area to get a more accurate picture of what homebuyers are really looking for. Albeit, a larger majority of real estate professionals (52%) find the kitchen one of the most important rooms that influences a house sale according to consumer reports. They also have a higher return on investment over bathrooms on average. Although, the range for ROI is very similar for both renovation projects, ranging from 65% to 100%. 

BOTTOM LINE

Put simply, kitchen renovations are more invasive and expensive than bathroom renovations.  Yet renovated kitchens tend to provide more homeowner satisfaction and value added over bathroom renovations. However, every situation is different, you just need to weigh out these factors and consider which room is more appropriate to renovate for your specific needs.

Sources:

Home Advisor - Bathroom Spending

Home Advisor - Kitchen Spending

Consumer report

The thought of creating your dream home can be extremely exciting. However, there are certain things that you can overlook when it comes to home renovations. Here are some common mistakes to avoid when taking on a remodel to help you save time and money, as well as ensure you don’t gray prematurely in the process.

1. Rushing into it.

Don’t get caught up in the excitement of a renovation project and rush into it without developing a good plan. Be patient. Before starting anything, come up with a design with your contractor, a realistic timeline, and look into whether or not your project needs a permit. Coming up with a good plan is tedious and time-consuming but having a bad plan or no plan at all can delay your project, derail progress, and increase costs in the long run.

2. Taking matters into your own hands (DIYers)

I love a DIY project as much as the next person, but just know when to hand over a project to professionals.  Realistically evaluate your own abilities before deciding to start a project without hiring a contractor. Sure a blog post or YouTube video may make it seem easy but just know that you may not end up with the result you were expecting or you may not be able to finish the project at all. Then...after investing your time and money into doing a  project on your own, you may have to hire a contractor to repair your mistake anyway. So realize that hiring a contractor is a worthwhile investment. They have the expertise to plan the project, maneuver through challenges, and apply best practices to ensure superior results. 

Tip: If you have made the decision to go about a project on your own, we offer home renovations consulting to help advise you on the project from start to finish. Read more about home renovations consulting here.

3. Choosing the first contractor you meet or a contractor with the lowest quote

 A contractor can make or break a project. Don’t make the mistake of choosing the first contractor you meet. Take your time.  Be sure to interview several contractors, communicating to them your expectations for the project and request an itemized estimate from each one. Moreover, the lowest quoted price might be tempting, but it can be misleading and unrealistic.  A low quote can mean that the contractor is not accounting for certain costs or even worse, they might cut corners once the renovation starts. 

4. Having an unrealistic budget

What I mean by “unrealistic” is creating a budget, which doesn’t allow for wiggle room.  A good rule of thumb to follow is once you have decided what you want to spend, increase that number by 20% and that should be your budget.  This 20% cushion will help prevent added stress when unforeseen events arise.

5. Choosing the cheaper option

It’s understandable that you are looking for ways to save money on a project, but don’t automatically choose the cheapest fixtures.  Talk to your contractor about the tradeoffs between quality and price for your certain aspects of your project. You’ll probably be better off selecting a better quality product that fits within your budget. Investing a little more on quality means you won’t be spending money on repairs in the long run.  

Tip: If you are in no rush at all, you may be able to find great deals on items that you do want throughout the year. You just need to keep your eyes peeled and you can save on material costs without compromising quality. However, make sure you have the right measurements before you buy it!

6.  Changing your mind.

 Try your best to stick to your initial plan once a renovation project has begun. Changing your mind throughout the project and doing last minute add-ons can get costly.  However, a good contractor will let you know what will cost extra if you do so happen to change your mind. Ultimately, coming up with a refined plan in the beginning in order to help you not doubt yourself throughout the renovation.