2002 Cost Vs. Value Report: Bathroom addition

2002 Cost vs. Value Report

Bathroom Addition

Seen strictly from the standpoint of resale, carving a bathroom out of available space, especially in a home that has only one or one-and-a-half baths, might be the most productive remodeling project owners can undertake. Salesperson Ollie Bell, of Coldwell Banker in West Mifflin, Pa., says that when it comes to bathrooms, buyers of existing homes expect at least two-and-a-half. Even first-time buyers, whose expectations may not be as high, “want a master bath and at least one more,” she says.

Most salespeople and appraisers interviewed for this year’s report agree. The cost for our midrange bathroom addition averages $15,058 nationally and recoups $14,180, or 94 percent of cost. The upscale bathroom comes in at $37,639 and recoups 81 percent of cost, or $30,626.

PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS

MIDRANGE Add a full 6-by-8-foot bath to a house with one or one-and-a-half baths. Locate within existing footprint near bedrooms. Include a cultured-marble vanity top, molded sink, standard tub/shower with ceramic tile surround, low-profile toilet, general and spot lighting, mirrored medicine cabinet, linen storage, vinyl wallpaper, and ceramic tile floor.

UPSCALE Add a new 9-by-9-foot master bath to a master bedroom. The new bathroom includes a 4-by-4-foot neo-angle shower with ceramic tile walls, recessed shower caddy, body spray fixtures, and frameless enclosure as well as a personalized whirlpool tub; a solid-surface countertop with two integral sinks; two mirrored medicine cabinets lighted by individual sconces; a compartmentalized commode area with one-piece toilet; and a humidistat-controlled exhaust fixture. Other touches: heated floor and towel bars, a custom drawer base, and wall cabinets.

	MIDRANGE			UPSCALE
Market	Job Cost	Resale Value	Cost Recouped	Job Cost	Resale Value	Cost Recouped
National Average	$15,058	$14,180	94%	$37,639	$30,626	81%
Atlanta	13,615	12,833	94	36,329	34,813	96
Boston	17,441	19,981	115	39,676	44,855	113
Buffalo, N.Y.	14,656	8,460	58	37,210	22,300	60
Chicago	18,129	20,607	114	40,211	40,281	100
Cincinnati	14,584	10,250	70	37,338	25,333	68
Cleveland	16,098	12,967	81	38,562	28,391	74
Columbus, Ohio	14,434	7,094	49	37,358	18,311	49
Dallas	12,953	10,238	79	35,802	23,451	66
Denver	13,809	8,489	61	36,538	21,917	60
Detroit	16,435	9,443	57	38,933	21,050	54
Houston	13,512	11,500	85	36,332	25,000	69
Indianapolis	14,574	8,800	60	37,277	21,600	58
Kansas City, Mo.	14,844	10,614	72	37,444	22,175	59
Los Angeles area	17,048	26,843	157	39,070	50,517	129
Los Angeles	17,280	35,460	205	39,411	68,308	173
Orange County, Calif.	16,815	18,225	108	38,729	32,725	84
Miami	12,471	11,250	90	35,464	25,250	71
Milwaukee	16,148	14,145	88	38,567	32,899	85
Minneapolis	18,096	18,800	104	39,263	34,400	88
New Orleans	12,374	11,058	89	35,308	30,302	86
New York area	16,411	20,703	126	38,789	42,865	111
Passaic, N.J.	16,845	13,500	80	39,234	28,750	73
Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y.	17,023	18,609	109	39,192	38,177	97
Fairfield-New Haven, Conn.	15,366	30,000	195	37,940	61,667	163
Norfolk, Va.	11,183	10,500	94	34,321	25,600	75
Orlando, Fla.	12,450	7,375	59	35,411	18,372	52
Philadelphia	16,178	16,686	103	38,756	35,901	93
Phoenix	13,872	9,583	69	36,547	19,333	53
Pittsburgh	15,064	8,750	58	37,764	18,250	48
Portland, Ore.	15,991	12,000	75	38,395	22,000	57
Providence, R.I.	15,094	11,375	75	37,850	26,250	69
Sacramento, Calif.	16,853	15,588	92	39,382	30,625	78
Salt Lake City	12,814	8,065	63	35,669	21,940	62
St. Louis	16,126	14,750	91	38,603	28,708	74
San Antonio	12,889	9,963	77	35,775	29,053	81
San Diego	16,216	16,250	100	38,726	36,250	94
San Francisco area	18,930	26,154	138	41,285	50,999	124
San Francisco	18,930	28,900	153	41,285	55,300	134
Oakland, Calif.	18,930	23,408	124	41,285	46,698	113
Seattle	16,565	15,481	93	38,147	30,722	81
Tampa, Fla.	11,729	10,000	85	34,786	21,500	62
Washington, D.C., area	13,001	13,455	103	36,133	29,063	80
Washington, D.C.	14,039	23,333	166	37,687	46,667	124
Baltimore	13,100	7,199	55	35,953	17,190	48
Richmond, Va.	11,864	9,833	83	34,759	23,333	67