2002 Cost vs. Value Report
In many homes, the bathroom doubles as a sanctuary. Or it can, if homeowners are willing to spend enough. For Stephanie Witt, owner of Kitchens by Stephanie, Grand Rapids, Mich., the question comes down to, "Do you want a payback on your investment or the room of your dreams?"
As it turns out, homeowners can have both. Measured as a national average, the price of turning a worn out bathroom into a new space -- that is, our mid-range bathroom -- is $9,720. That would recoup $8,506, or 88%.
The "room of your dreams" -- a bathroom with all the trimmings -- runs considerably more: $22,639, and recoups 91% of cost, or $20,609.
Project description
Mid-range: Update an existing bathroom that is at least 25 years old. Replace all fixtures to include standard-sized tub with ceramic tile surround; toilet; solid-surface vanity counter with integral double sink; recessed medicine cabinet; ceramic tile floor; vinyl wallpaper.
Mid-range | |||
Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
National Average | $9,720 | $8,506 | 88% |
Atlanta | 8,980 | 8,909 | 99 |
Boston | 10,887 | 11,885 | 109 |
Buffalo, N.Y. | 9,378 | 6,780 | 72 |
Chicago | 11,029 | 12,019 | 109 |
Cincinnati | 9,767 | 6,500 | 67 |
Cleveland | 10,484 | 7,984 | 76 |
Columbus, Ohio | 9,753 | 5,270 | 54 |
Dallas | 8,464 | 5,625 | 66 |
Denver | 9,361 | 5,645 | 60 |
Detroit | 10,358 | 7,863 | 76 |
Houston | 8,732 | 6,250 | 72 |
Indianapolis | 9,510 | 5,500 | 58 |
Kansas City | 9,573 | 6,156 | 64 |
Los Angeles metro | 10,634 | 12,892 | 121 |
Los Angeles | 10,852 | 16,783 | 155 |
Orange Cty, Calif. | 10,415 | 9,000 | 86 |
Miami | 8,352 | 6,450 | 77 |
Milwaukee | 9,992 | 8,398 | 84 |
Minneapolis | 10,706 | 11,840 | 111 |
New Orleans | 8,190 | 6,586 | 80 |
New York metro | 10,544 | 11,348 | 108 |
Passaic, N.J. | 10,940 | 7,750 | 71 |
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 10,799 | 11,960 | 111 |
Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 9,894 | 14,333 | 145 |
Norfolk, Va. | 7,569 | 6,400 | 85 |
Orlando, Fla. | 8,250 | 5,688 | 69 |
Philadelphia | 10,486 | 12,362 | 118 |
Phoenix | 8,962 | 5,333 | 60 |
Pittsburgh | 10,120 | 5,500 | 54 |
Portland, Ore. | 10,235 | 7,583 | 74 |
Providence, R.I. | 9,768 | 7,125 | 73 |
Sacramento, Calif. | 10,642 | 8,928 | 84 |
Salt Lake City | 8,553 | 7,205 | 84 |
St. Louis | 10,268 | 9,083 | 88 |
San Antonio | 8,665 | 5,921 | 68 |
San Diego | 10,314 | 8,250 | 80 |
San Francisco metro | 12,193 | 18,207 | 149 |
San Francisco | 12,193 | 18,000 | 148 |
Oakland, Calif. | 12,193 | 18,413 | 151 |
Seattle | 10,551 | 10,103 | 96 |
Tampa, Fla. | 7,750 | 4,500 | 58 |
Washington metro | 8,535 | 6,286 | 74 |
Washington, D.C. | 8,976 | 8,667 | 97 |
Baltimore | 8,752 | $4,459 | 51 |
Richmond, Va. | 7,877 | $5,733 | 73 |
Upscale: Expand an existing 5-by-7-foot bathroom to 9-by-9 feet within existing house footprint. Double the number of windows and replace the tub with a custom dual 4-by-6-foot shower in a tile enclosure and glass block surround. The shower includes top-of-line fittings and full-body wash shower wall. Relocate the toilet into a partitioned area and replace it with one-piece color unit. Add a custom vanity cabinet with twin sinks set in granite tops and a linen/towel storage closet, general and spot lighting, a humidistat-controlled exhaust fan. Tile floor, papered walls, hardwood trim.
Upscale | |||
Market | Job Cost | Resale Value | Cost Recouped |
National Average | $22,639 | $20,609 | 91% |
Atlanta | 21,394 | 25,405 | 119 |
Boston | 24,784 | 38,230 | 154 |
Buffalo, N.Y. | 21,976 | 15,200 | 69 |
Chicago | 24,983 | 24,748 | 99 |
Cincinnati | 22,274 | 19,167 | 86 |
Cleveland | 23,649 | 14,706 | 62 |
Columbus, Ohio | 22,367 | 12,296 | 55 |
Dallas | 20,667 | 13,750 | 67 |
Denver | 21,813 | 15,867 | 73 |
Detroit | 23,719 | 14,750 | 62 |
Houston | 21,045 | 15,875 | 75 |
Indianapolis | 22,179 | 13,800 | 62 |
Kansas City | 22,349 | 13,125 | 59 |
Los Angeles metro | 24,392 | 29,544 | 121 |
Los Angeles | 24,667 | 40,250 | 163 |
Orange Cty, Calif. | 24,117 | 18,838 | 78 |
Miami | 20,390 | 15,750 | 77 |
Milwaukee | 23,225 | 20,907 | 90 |
Minneapolis | 24,570 | 25,000 | 102 |
New Orleans | 20,025 | 16,003 | 80 |
New York metro | 23,989 | 26,755 | 112 |
Passaic, N.J. | 24,575 | 18,000 | 73 |
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. | 24,495 | 23,599 | 96 |
Fairfield-New Haven, Conn. | 22,898 | 38,667 | 169 |
Norfolk, Va. | 19,044 | 15,000 | 79 |
Orlando, Fla. | 20,178 | 15,245 | 76 |
Philadelphia | 23,941 | 24,900 | 104 |
Phoenix | 21,471 | 11,917 | 56 |
Pittsburgh | 23,063 | 12,125 | 53 |
Portland, Ore. | 23,343 | 20,167 | 86 |
Providence, R.I. | 22,695 | 17,875 | 79 |
Sacramento, Calif. | 24,220 | 20,900 | 86 |
Salt Lake City | 20,713 | 14,802 | 71 |
St. Louis | 23,431 | 17,973 | 77 |
San Antonio | 20,825 | 18,750 | 90 |
San Diego | 23,730 | 25,000 | 105 |
San Francisco metro | 26,684 | 42,726 | 160 |
San Francisco | 26,684 | 44,600 | 167 |
Oakland, Calif. | 26,684 | 40,852 | 153 |
Seattle | 24,204 | 21,788 | 90 |
Tampa, Fla. | 19,526 | 13,333 | 68 |
Washington metro | 20,756 | 18,608 | 90 |
Washington, D.C. | 21,650 | 28,333 | 131 |
Baltimore | 20,949 | 11,825 | 56 |
Richmond, Va. | 19,670 | 15,667 | 80 |