If you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, you may be wondering what you should do to get it ready to sell. The kitchen and bathrooms are the rooms that tend to sell the house. And bathrooms are getting more attention that ever from prospective buyers as the trend has shifted to larger, more luxurious bathrooms. Remodeling a bathroom will not only increase the value of your home, but it can also help it sell faster, especially if there are several other similar homes for sale in your neighborhood.

How extensively you should renovate depends on a number of factors. If your bathroom is still stuck in the 70s or 80s, you probably need to do significant remodeling. If your bathroom was remodeled within the last decade or so, you may be able to get by with minimal upgrades. According to Remodeling Magazine, simply upgrading an older bathroom with a new taller height vanity, new tile flooring and shower/tub tile surround can recoup, on average, 102 percent of the cost of the project. The number of bathrooms in your home is also critical. If your home only has one bathroom, you may want to consider adding a second. Look at comparable homes in your neighborhood to see how many bathrooms they have.

Real estate agents are a great resource in deciding what types of changes need to be made. They can recommend what features attract potential buyers and what features deter them.

A few features to consider incorporating into your bathroom remodel include:

• Replace existing fixtures with newer, water-efficient fixtures, including faucets, showerheads, and toilets. These newer fixtures can reduce water usage by as much as 30 percent. Make sure to highlight this feature to prospective buyers. Additionally, opt for hand showers instead of standard showerheads.

• Install new, energy-efficient lighting. In addition to recessed lighting for general illumination, you should also consider adding task updated lighting over the vanity and shower/ tub as well as accent lighting to highlight any architectural features.

• If your flooring is showing its age, replace it with new flooring. Avoid wood floors or other flooring types that are affected by moisture and humidity. Tile is a great, low-cost option. If you are tearing out the existing floor, consider adding radiant heat flooring. This feature will stand out to prospective buyers.

• If your shower has doors, consider replacing them with new doors. If your tub has outdated shower doors, consider removing them to give it a more upscale look.

• If your cabinetry is in good shape, a fresh coat of paint may be enough to make them look like new. However, if they’re in poor condition or outdated, consider upgrading them. Look for cabinetry with good storage options.

When remodeling your bathroom to sell, it’s important to keep the design and color scheme as neutral as possible. While you may love purple, prospective buyers may not. If you want to bring in some color, consider using linens to accomplish the task. Opt for a simple white vanity and fixtures in a traditional design.

One mistake many homeowners make when remodeling their bathroom is that they try and save money by doing the work themselves. This can backfire big time. Not only can a professional contactor do the work much faster, but they can also ensure it’s done correctly and according to code. In addition, bathrooms are smaller and work that is less than stellar will be much more noticeable and likely dissuade buyers. Save yourself the time, effort, and money and let a professional do the work.