The First Time Home Buyer's Guide to Bathroom Remodeling

That first home will look like a palace through the rose-colored glasses of the first time home buyer. But as any homeowner knows, that honeymoon phase can end quickly after move-in day. One thing that can snap a new homeowner into reality is bathroom problems. Design and functionality, not dinner coming back to bite you..well, you know.

A bathroom remodeling project may not be on your list of fun things to do this week, but it might be a necessity in a first home. An old toilet, ugly wallpaper, dingy tub...all good reasons to spruce up a bathroom. And some things are easily done in a do-it-yourself (DIY) weekend. Others may require professional attention.

Kurt Karhoff with Holland Remodeling & Building says he hears from new homeowners all the time who want to spruce up their "throne room." So, where do you get the most bang for your buck? "One of the easiest things a first time home buyer can do to freshen up a bathroom is a vanity kit," Karhoff says. "That includes a sink top, the faucet and handles. It's everything in one package. It will give your bathroom a decent look for a good price."

But what about projects that a new homeowner may need help with? "A new toilet. A new bathtub. Usually replacing the tub is the bigger project where you might need a professional," Karhoff says. "Plus with a new tub, a new tile floor would really make the bathroom remodeling project really shine. Most people can't or don't want to do tile. That's something you'd want to hire a professional for."

Karhoff tells most homeowners to expect between $5,000 and $10,000 for a budget for quality bathroom remodeling.

Other additions to help jazz up that bathroom: A tile border around the mirror. Tile for a chair rail look always looks good, too.

Here's a secret Kurt shared with us: One thing a lot of folks forget about is the exhaust fan. There are great kits that can do this and make it look like a light, not a fan.

Here's a look at 6 bathroom remodeling ideas a first time home buyer can do for herself:

1. New handles on the bathroom sink.
2. Accent rugs.
3. New paint - use bright colors to make the bathroom feel bigger.
4. Hang a mirror and small accent mirrors on adjacent walls.
5. Install (or replace old) towel bars.
6. Trim around a mirror.

Now let's look at 6 projects you might need some help on:

1. New tub/shower.
2. New toilet.
3. Tile flooring.
4. New vanity, sink and faucet.
5. Replace lighting fixtures.
6. Gut the entire bathroom and start over.

You can see that even when that first house makes your heart skip a beat with all the potential (and the fact that it's all yours), you will probably want to do at least some work to give it your own flavor. 

Some advice for the first time home buyer looking to remodel: make sure you plan well. Research prices to do it yourself, but also look into a builder or remodeler. Some work may be better left to the professionals. Maybe installing a new light is easy, but working with anything to do with plumbing and water is well beyond your skill set. That's okay. Find a remoedling company that you can work with, plan the budget and design with them, and turn that first house into your dream home.

Get more home improvement and remodeling ideas with "The DIY Home Improvements Ultimate Pinterest Guide." We scoured the Internet for you - specifically Pinterest - to help save you time looking for DIY home improvement ideas. The guide is full of remodeling and decorating ideas you can do yourself. 

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