Yahoo Finance 4 Plumbing Upgrades That Can Increase Your Home’s Value
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, and that may be true, but what’s a hearty kitchen without a high-functioning kitchen sink or dishwasher? Even in this room of cooking and eating, stellar plumbing is paramount.
Indeed, plumbing can make or break a home — quite literally. If a house has degenerated pipes or leaky valves, you’re not only possibly wasting water, you’re flushing your home’s value down the toilet — if it even works right.
If you want to increase your home’s value, and enhance your quality of life while you’re at it, consider these four plumbing upgrades recommended by experts in the space.
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Rainfall or Handheld Showerheads
For many of us, a shower isn’t just a perfunctory measure to keep our bodies clean; it’s also a way to revitalize our spirits. A hot shower can quickly turn a bad day around and relax us. This is why showerheads matter.
A rainfall showerhead, which, if you’re not familiar, is exactly what it sounds like, is particularly desirable to homebuyers.
“Rainfall showerheads are associated with spa-like luxury and can instantly make a bathroom seem more expensive,” said Seamus Nally, CEO of TurboTenant, who added that handheld showerheads are also highly desirable because they’re convenient and can aid people who have physical disabilities or would like to wash their pets at home.
“These two showerheads are some of the best to choose from a value perspective,” Nally said.
Exactly how much either of these showerheads can increase your home’s value isn’t clear, and probably isn’t significant, but every little bit helps — and either is hardly an expensive upgrade. You can get a rainfall showerhead on Amazon for as low as $30. Also on Amazon, you can get a handheld showerhead for as low as $17.
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A Tankless Water Heater
Tankless water heaters have been around for more than 100 years, but they’ve only recently surged in popularity, as homeowners are increasingly looking to save on utility bills.
Geno Caccia, CEO of Caccia Plumbing, calls them “a revolution in home efficiency and appeal.”
“A Zillow analysis found homes with tankless water heaters sold for 43 days faster and 4% more than the predicted value,” Caccia said. “This might mean a $20,000 value boost for a $500,000 house.”
Tankless water heaters can be pricey, but you’ll still come out way on top in terms of profit if you invest in one. You can get a tankless water heater on Amazon for around $430, but consult with a plumber for proper installation and to be sure you’re getting the right one for your space. A plumber may recommend spending more money on this upgrade for maximum value.
A Water Softener
Have you ever heard of a water softener? If not, listen up: They’re a cool feature and, increasingly, homeowners love them as much as they hate “hard” water.
“According to the U.S. Geological Survey, about 90% of American homes deal with hard water,” Caccia said. “Therefore, I recommend every one of my customers use a water softener. It increases water quality for personal use, stretches the lifetime of appliances and pipelines and helps to avoid mineral accumulation in them.”
Caccia added that though there is no exact data pinpointing how much value a water softener can add to your home, the advantages are obvious: “Longer-lasting equipment, less maintenance and better water quality. These elements can help your house appeal to purchasers and perhaps raise its worth.”
Home Depot has a water softener retailing for $400.
Whole-Home Repiping
By far the biggest investment — and the one with the highest return — is whole-home repiping.
“Given new pipes can last 100 years or more, this is a wise investment,” Caccia said. “It fixes leaks, raises water pressure and gives purchasers peace of mind.”
Caccia said that whole-home repiping has the potential to raise a house’s value by 2%-3%. “That may be a $10,000 to $15,000 increase for a $500,000 house,” he said. “Customers value knowing they won’t have to cope with possible water damage or plumbing problems not too far ahead.”
The cost of whole-home repiping depends on various factors including your home size and what materials you’re using. However, according to data from Reliant Plumbers, an average home repipe can cost between $6,500 and $35,000.
Another good reason to consider whole-home repiping: If/when you sell your home, the prospective buyer’s inspector could check the pipes. Old or leaky pipes could easily prompt a seller to back out of the purchase as it’s a costly repair. So, not only will new piping enhance your home’s value, it will get you ahead of a possible problem when you go to sell.
Pro Tip: Keep Receipts
One additional note: When making any upgrades or repairs to your home, keep receipts. Prospective buyers will want to know of any and all plumbing upgrades and when they occurred. This can ultimately secure you a happy buyer and higher price on your home.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Plumbing Upgrades That Can Increase Your Home’s Value
