Budget bathroom makeover

A tired 1970s bathroom was given a fresh look on a shoestring budget.

As a bathroom in an investment property, the brief was pretty straightforward. “I wanted a bathroom that was durable and low maintenance,” says owner Jennifer, adding “something that would be problem-free for 7-10 years.”

Cost was also an important factor. While Jennifer wanted to maximise the value of the property and increase rental yield, she was concerned about overspending.

To work out the best way to proceed she decided to attend a property investment seminar, Renovation for Profit, by Jane Slack-Smith.

One of Jane’s recommendations was to use ServiceSeeking.com.au to locate reasonably priced, quality tradesmen – so Jennifer decided to give the site a go.

Within hours, she had received 5 quotes.  

The decision 
As a seasoned renovator, Jennifer knew not to just go with the cheapest quote but to do a bit of a background check. “I checked out their business profiles, reviews and feedback,” she tells, “I also met them in person and asked for a proper written quotation.”

She ended up selecting Angel Touch Bathrooms for the job, a business with 25 years of experience in bathroom renovations and major plumbing works.

Although Jennifer already had a good idea of what she wanted, owner Philippe assisted as much as possible to put the concepts into action – within her budget.

The budget
The new bathroom cost just over $12,000 and is set to add much more than this to the property’s value.

Normally for this price, you would expect a basic level job with no major changes to the layout or plumbing – but this bathroom required a complete overhaul.

This price included the removal of the existing bathroom, new plumbing, levelling of the floor, rendering and new tiling, waterproofing, fixtures, installation of fittings and fixtures and electrical work. Talk about value for money!

Jennifer also enlisted Angel Touch Bathrooms to makeover her laundry. This cost an additional $4,000.

Before 
The previous bathroom was 1970s style, complete with a rusted bathtub and cracked tiles that attracted lots of mould.    

After 
The result speaks for itself. The new bathroom is lovely and modern, with bright tiles to lighten the space. Natural stone mosaic tiles give the room a classic touch. High-quality chrome fittings and fixtures were used throughout for elegance and durability, while all other fixtures are white to enhance the room’s dimensions. The bathroom was finished off with a fresh lick of paint by Shades & Tones Painting, a business Jennifer also found through ServiceSeeking.com.au

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