Home improvements like kitchen and bathroom renovations are well-known for adding significant value to a property. But what about the laundry room? Often overlooked when preparing a home for sale, the laundry room can make a difference to potential buyers.
While a laundry room renovation may not dramatically increase your home’s resale value, it can significantly enhance your day-to-day living experience. This guide will explain how updating your laundry room can benefit you and attract more buyers.
Let’s get straight to the point.
Renovating a laundry room may not greatly boost a home’s resale value, but it significantly improves daily living and can attract potential buyers. Key updates include better lighting, creating more space, adding storage, upgrading appliances, and installing custom cabinetry.
Many buyers prefer a clean, organised, and well-lit laundry room on the ground floor. Proper staging, such as decluttering, fresh paint, and improved functionality, enhances the room’s appeal, making it a desirable feature for homebuyers, especially first-time buyers and families.
The Role Of The Laundry Room In Adding Value
When considering whether a laundry room adds value to a home, it’s essential to understand the different kinds of value. The answer to “Does adding a laundry room increase a home’s resale value?” is typically “not much.”
However, the value added to your daily life and convenience is often more substantial. Many homebuyers today prioritise a well-organised and functional laundry space, especially in homes with large families or busy lifestyles.
Enhancing Your Laundry Room’s Appeal
A bright, well-maintained laundry room is much more inviting than a dim, cluttered space. Since every homeowner uses the laundry room regularly, an updated space can positively impact one’s quality of life.
If you’re preparing to sell your home, the laundry room can also be a deciding factor for buyers, especially first-time buyers and families.
How To Add Value To Your Laundry Room?
A few strategic improvements can make a significant difference in both functionality and appearance. Here are some tips on how to enhance your laundry room to maximise its appeal:
1. Improve Lighting
Laundry rooms are often tucked away in corners of the home, making them darker and less appealing. Adding additional lighting makes the room feel larger, cleaner, and more welcoming. Bright lights make it easier to perform tasks like sorting clothes or folding laundry.
2. Create More Space
Space is a valuable commodity in any room. If your laundry area is cramped, look for ways to create more room. Consider installing wall-mounted washers and dryers to free up floor space or add hooks to store laundry baskets.
Even in small spaces, thoughtful layout changes can improve functionality.
3. Add Bench Space
A wide bench provides an essential space for folding clothes or sorting laundry. The larger the bench, the more practical it becomes.
This feature is especially useful in homes with multiple occupants where laundry piles up quickly.
4. Conceal Unsightly Items
Unattractive items like dirty laundry baskets and ironing boards can make the space cluttered. Consider installing pull-out drawers to hide dirty laundry or wall-mounted ironing boards that fold away neatly.
Keeping these items out of sight creates a cleaner, more organised appearance.
5. Repair Wear And Tear
Regular use can leave the laundry room looking worn. Before listing your home, give this area a deep clean. Repaint the walls and replace any broken fixtures.
Simple updates like fixing a leaky faucet or patching chipped paint can make the space feel fresh.
6. Increase Storage
Storage is important in a laundry room. Adding custom cabinetry or shelves lets you organise cleaning supplies and keep the area clutter-free.
Well-designed storage makes laundry tasks more manageable and increases the room’s overall appeal.
Key Renovation Considerations For Laundry Rooms
If your home has a laundry room, especially on the ground floor, simple renovations can boost its usability and attractiveness to potential buyers. Here are two major enhancements to focus on:
1. Upgrade Appliances
Laundry appliances like washers and dryers typically last about ten years. When upgrading, opt for energy-efficient, modern appliances. Matching machines can create a clean, cohesive look in your laundry room.
Additionally, stacked or side-by-side appliances can provide more space, which is a selling point for buyers.
2. Install Custom Cabinets
Custom cabinetry can transform the laundry room into a more functional and attractive space. Cabinets provide ample storage for cleaning supplies, and adding a folding station makes laundry more convenient. With a clean and well-organised layout, your laundry room becomes a practical asset rather than just a utility space.
What Home Buyers Want In A Laundry Room?
According to various surveys, homebuyers increasingly value having a dedicated laundry room. A functional laundry area with updated appliances and proper storage solutions is high on many buyers’ wish lists.
Laundry Room Features Buyers Want:
- Energy-Efficient Appliances: Buyers seek appliances that reduce water and energy use.
- First-Floor Laundry: The laundry room on the ground floor is a significant preference. It’s more convenient and reduces noise from washers and dryers.
- Additional Utility: A deep laundry sink or extra workspace is highly valued for soaking clothes or washing pets.
Popular Locations For Laundry Rooms
Location plays a critical role in the functionality of a laundry room. While many older homes have laundry areas in the basement, modern homes often place them on the ground floor near the garage.
This layout reduces noise and makes it easier to access the space. If your home’s laundry room is in the basement or another inconvenient location, consider relocating it.
Some buyers prefer first-floor laundry rooms, which are worth considering if you plan a renovation.
How To Stage Your Laundry Room For Sale
Staging can help highlight the laundry room’s potential when selling your home. Here are seven steps to follow:
1. Clean Thoroughly
A clean space is appealing to buyers. Ensure the washer and dryer are spotless and in good working order. Clean any accumulated lint or detergent spills, and ensure the room smells fresh.
2. Add Decorative Touches
Small decorative items, such as a plant or framed photo, can add charm to the space. If there’s a window, add a sheer curtain to let in light while maintaining privacy.
3. Organise Storage
Declutter your laundry supplies, dispose of expired cleaning products, and store the remaining supplies in organised containers or baskets on shelves.
4. Declutter The Space
Keep the area dedicated solely to laundry. If the room is used for storage, move those items elsewhere. A clean, well-organised laundry room feels more spacious and functional.
5. Tend To Outdoor Spaces
If your laundry room has an outdoor vent, ensure it’s clean and lint-free. A poorly maintained vent can be a red flag for potential buyers.
6. Brighten Up The Room
A fresh coat of paint can make a huge difference. Opt for lighter colours to open the space, and install a bright light fixture to improve visibility.
7. Maintain Cleanliness During Showings
If you still live in the home while it’s being shown, keep laundry tasks out of sight. No one wants to see piles of dirty clothes or a full basket of clean laundry.
Conclusion
While a laundry room renovation may not drastically increase your home’s resale value, it can still considerably impact potential buyers. A well-lit, organised, modern laundry space makes a home more appealing, especially to families and first-time buyers.
Incorporating custom cabinets, upgrading appliances, and ensuring the room is clean and clutter-free will improve the overall functionality and desirability of the space. Whether selling or staying, an updated laundry room can enhance your home’s appeal and provide a more enjoyable laundry experience.
FAQs About Laundry Room
Does A Laundry Room Add Value?
Something as simple as updated laundry room floor cabinets can take the space from boring to elegant. A frequently asked question many homeowners have is, “Can I add monetary value to my home by remodeling my laundry room?” Our relatively straightforward answer is “not much”-at least in terms of resale value.
What Is A Laundry Room?
It’s a space where you keep as much to do with washing your clothes as possible. The washing machine, the tumble dryer, the detergents, the laundry baskets, the ironing board, the pegs, the iron – you get the gist.
Can You Put Shower In Laundry Room?
It may sound strange to have a shower installed into your laundry room area but if you have young kids or pets, and enjoy a clean home, this might be the right addition for you. This type of shower stall can be installed into the corner of your laundry room and the compact design will allow for standing room only.
Can I Put A Toilet In My Laundry Room?
By removing the sink or using new cupboards it is possible to create the space so that you can install a toilet into the laundry room. This is a great way to create more space in your house and add functionality as well.
Does A Laundry Room Need A Sink?
Sinks are some of the most important fixtures in a laundry room. This is because we do a lot of washing in the laundry room and hence we need the sinks for this purpose. Ordinary sinks will serve you well in your laundry room. But if you really want to make a laundry room work, install a utility sink.
