Want to add serious value to your home with one renovation project?
Updating your bathroom may be your best home improvement project of the year. Here’s the proof: Midrange bathroom remodels earned homeowners a national 80% ROI in 2025, the highest ROI since 2007. Bathroom remodels just had their highest ROI in 18 years.
But here’s the catch…
There are upgrades that matter and upgrades that do not. Tile, vanities, lighting… those are eye-catching, but buyer’s eyes and inspectors go way beyond the glitz.
The biggest mistakes happen behind the walls in the plumbing.
Cheap fixtures and DIY shortcuts can kill returns before a house even lists. A leaky shower pan, a slow drain, a banging supply line- these things drive buyers away the second they step in the door.
That’s why the single most important hire during any bathroom reno is a licensed master plumber. They know local code, know what home inspectors look for, and will do the rough-in right the first time. If you skip that expertise, big ticket items can fail inspection or cause expensive issues years down the road. Companies you know and trust locally, like Boris Mechanical, do this kind of expert bathroom plumbing work every day.
This article discusses which plumbing renovations will increase home value.
What’s Coming Up:
- Why Bathroom Plumbing Drives Home Value
- Plumbing Upgrades Buyers Actually Pay For
- When A Licensed Master Plumber Is Non-Negotiable
- Common Plumbing Mistakes That Kill Your ROI
Why Bathroom Plumbing Drives Home Value
Bathrooms sell houses.
That’s not opinion, that’s data. 81% of buyers care about updated bathrooms when buying a home. Plus the bathroom is where most plumbing issues are lurking.
Here’s why plumbing matters so much:
- Hidden infrastructure: Buyers may not see the pipes, but inspectors do.
- Water efficiency: Modern fixtures save real money on water bills.
- Updated functionality: Better faucets, showers, and toilets feel better.
- Code compliance: Old plumbing often fails inspection and kills deals.
Done correctly, plumbing makes all your other upgrades shine. Done incorrectly, not even the nicest tiled job will save your sale.
Pretty simple, right?
Plumbing Upgrades Buyers Actually Pay For
Not every plumbing upgrade offers a similar return on investment. These upgrades have proven to increase home value time and time again…
Swap Old Toilets For WaterSense Models
Old toilets waste water. New ones save money.
It’s the simplest DIY plumbing project there is and one of the smartest upgrades you can make. By replacing old, inefficient toilets with WaterSense toilets you can save $130/year on water costs alone, according to the EPA. That’s all profit/income for you.
The best news? High-efficiency toilets today flush better than their wasteful predecessors ever did. Say goodbye to clogs and double flushing. Just a clean, efficient toilet that will pay for itself.
Upgrade To A Modern Shower System
The shower is the centrepiece of any modern bathroom.
Consumers desire spacious walk-in showers with adequate water pressure and strong flow. In order to deliver on that promise, you need:
- Bigger supply lines for proper pressure
- A pressure-balancing valve for safety
- A WaterSense showerhead for efficiency
- Proper drainage to handle the higher flow
Cheap showerheads ruin the experience. Spend extra money on this. You’ll earn it back in buyer appeal.
Replace Old Galvanized Or Polybutylene Pipes
This is the upgrade nobody talks about…
Except usually it’s the one that fixes the most issues. If there is galvanized steel or polybutylene piping in a house it is begging for failure. Home inspectors will call them out immediately. Buyers use them as negotiating points. Some lenders won’t finance a home that has them.
Replacing them with PEX or copper is expensive but it:
- Eliminates leak risk
- Boosts insurance ratings
- Removes a major buyer objection
- Protects the work you just put into the bathroom
One you don’t want to miss. You can have a bathroom that is shiny and brand new but if the supply lines underneath are 70 years old it’s still ugly.
Add A Double Vanity
Double vanities sell.
Especially in the master bathroom. Behind the scenes with the plumbing – extra supply lines, proper venting, second drain – is where DIYers typically run into trouble.
Properly executed, a double vanity will elevate a bathroom to “upscale” status without costing upscale money.
When A Licensed Master Plumber Is Non-Negotiable
Some plumbing jobs are DIY territory. Most are not.
A licensed master plumber is required for:
- Re-routing supply lines
- Moving drain lines
- Adding new fixtures to existing systems
- Installing tankless water heaters
- Anything involving gas lines
Saving money by going without the pro will usually cost you money instead. Permits never get pulled. Inspections are missed. Buyers walk when they discover unpermitted work during due diligence.
Hire a licensed master plumber early. BEFORE the tile goes down. After the walls are closed up its 3-4x more expensive to correct errors.
Common Plumbing Mistakes That Kill Your ROI
Even good renovations can flop if these mistakes show up…
Skipping Permits
This is the #1 reason bathroom renos lose money at resale.
Improperly permitted plumbing work raises red flags with buyers, inspectors, and appraisers. It can even force you to rip out completed work just to have it inspected. Always get permits.
Going Cheap On Fixtures
A $40 faucet looks great in the showroom…
However it’s also the first thing that drips, leaks or doesn’t work after 12 months. Cheap fixtures scream to buyers that the rest of the reno was compromised as well. Stay in the middle ground. That couple hundred dollars will return your investment 10 fold.
Ignoring The Water Heater
Having a brand new bathroom with an old water heater means taking cold showers.
Installing a second shower, a soaker tub or a body spray system? The water heater has to keep up. Tankless is usually the best option and can add value itself.
Forgetting About Ventilation
This isn’t strictly plumbing but it’s connected.
Poor ventilation causes mold, mildew, and rotting framing. Buyers will see it right away. Put in a good exhaust fan and vent to the outside. (Not to the attic)
Final Thoughts
Plumbing code compliance usually isn’t glamorous in bathroom renovations. But where value truly resides.
Quick recap:
- Replace old toilets with WaterSense models
- Modernise the shower
- Replace problem pipes (galvanized, polybutylene)
- Add a double vanity for upscale appeal
- Use a licensed pro for anything structural
- Pull every permit and document the work
Do these things correctly and your bathroom remodel will pay you back handsomely with ROI when selling. Avoid them and not even the fanciest tile job will rescue your efforts.
