The Bathroom Feature That Will Add Value To Your Home, According To Mike Holmes

Noted as being the most common renovation, bathroom revamps beat out kitchens as the top remodeling choice, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Since the bathroom is essentially the most important room of your home, it's worth taking advice from HGTV star and professional contractor Mike Holmes on how to upgrade it with the most sought-after features. Installing functional elements, like moisture-preventing ventilation fans and heated floors, can make your home stand out on the market, but a top-rated option is something one can use to prevent falls, which is most likely to occur in the bathroom. In his Make It Right blog, Holmes shared that grab bars is one bathroom feature that can increase the value of your home. They are an excellent way to improve your toilet's accessibility, as well as that of the shower, bathtub, and sink.

An increasing number of homeowners are ensuring their bathroom renovations include greater accessibility for seniors and others with mobility concerns. These features have become a priority as more people plan for the future, and installing grab bars are an easy way to make a home safer for seniors. A professional upgrade for built-in rails provides the most style variety and the best chance to up your property's value. 

When adding more safety and mobility ease to your home by way of grab bars, you can potentially increase your home's value. The remodel appeals to a wider market and creates a space that fits the aging-in-place initiative. Mike Holmes advises getting a grab bar that is ACA (Accessible Canda Act) or ADA (Americans with Disabilities) compliant and able to withstand at least 250 pounds. Grab bar installation can also work in tandem with half-walls, non-slip surfaces, and shower benches — another feature Holmes recommends – to completely modify the bathroom for easy accessibility. Among such upgrades, installing grab bars is less costly, lower-maintenance, and less labor-intensive. 

A stainless steel L-shaped grab bar is the standard rail most people install. Homeowners can spend anywhere from $85 to $300 for this bathroom upgrade. Also consider installation costs can depend on your available support structure. For a wall with existing studs, installing a grab bar averages $75 to $150, but needing to add wall supports can increase the installation price to $200. This feature can make your home more accessible without a major renovation and help prevent painful, costly falls. For older adults, the average hospital cost from a fall is over $30,000, so this bathroom upgrade is definitely an investment worth making.