Our Real Estate Expert Says This Is The Best Flooring Material For Your Bathroom For Resale Value

When remodeling your bathroom, it can be tricky to know which flooring to opt for, and this is especially true if you want your house looking its best when it's up for sale. If you feel like you have been going in circles trying to pick the right flooring, look no further. Lindsey Schmidt, a realtor based in Virginia, exclusively shared with House Digest which flooring you should choose if you're planning to put your home on the market any time soon. "My contractors recommend luxury vinyl tile (LVT) for bathrooms as they are durable and can withstand moisture," Schmidt revealed. 

If you haven't heard of it, this type of vinyl is a cut above regular vinyl floor. It can effectively replicates the appearance of higher-end materials like stone or marble without the cost or high-maintenance aspect of these materials. Though Schmidt recommended it for bathrooms, she also noted, "In Northern Virginia, where laundry room basements are common, many of my clients choose to use it for laundry rooms as well."

As it can imitate marble and stone, installing luxury vinyl tile in your bathroom is a perfect choice if you want to put your property up for sale at a higher price without the hefty renovation price tag. "It looks great, is low maintenance and budget-friendly," Lindsey Schmidt told House Digest in our exclusive interview. 

On average, it will cost $1,400 to install luxury vinyl tile in a space that measures 200 square feet, though this number could be more or less depending on where you live and the exact style of tile you choose. Considering that the average bathroom measures between 40 to 60 square feet, you could make some major savings by opting for luxury vinyl tile. Plus, since it's affordable, you can then use any leftover money to update the rest of your bathroom. Changes such as swapping out rusty bathroom taps or replacing cabinet doors that are looking a bit tired will make a huge difference when potential buyers come to view your property.

If you're not completely sold on the idea of luxury vinyl tile in your bathroom, Lindsey Schmidt recommended a second flooring choice to House Digest readers. "Another affordable option is porcelain tile, which is also known for being water-resistant," Schmidt shared. Like luxury vinyl tile, porcelain tile is a low-maintenance bathroom flooring option, which will be extremely appealing to potential buyers. 

It also has good resistance against stains and water, making it an ideal fit for a bathroom. However, it will feel harder underfoot than luxury vinyl tile, which could put some buyers off. While harder floor may be okay in a kitchen, the sensation of hard floor isn't very appealing in a space where you'll often have bare feet, such as the bathroom. Though this is a small con compared to the pros of porcelain tile, we recommend opting for luxury vinyl tile first in order to appeal to a higher amount of buyers and improve the resale value of your home overall.