WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.919 You know what's wild? The average bathroom remodel 00:00:02.919 --> 00:00:06.580 in 2026 costs as much as a new car. We're talking 00:00:06.580 --> 00:00:11.359 $16 ,500. But here's the real kicker. It might 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:13.919 actually be a smarter investment than that shiny 00:00:13.919 --> 00:00:17.859 new vehicle. That's quite a claim. What makes 00:00:17.859 --> 00:00:21.800 you say that? Well, check this out. While that 00:00:21.800 --> 00:00:24.019 new car starts depreciating the moment you drive 00:00:24.019 --> 00:00:27.019 it off the lot, a mid -range bathroom remodel 00:00:27.019 --> 00:00:31.160 is giving homeowners a 65 to 80 % return on investment. 00:00:32.539 --> 00:00:35.380 We're talking about adding up to $20 ,000 to 00:00:35.380 --> 00:00:39.740 your home's value on a $25 ,000 renovation. Those 00:00:39.740 --> 00:00:42.719 numbers are pretty compelling, but I imagine 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:45.100 there's quite a range in what people are spending 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:50.119 these days. Oh, you have no idea. So, get this. 00:00:50.479 --> 00:00:53.079 On the low end, you've got your budget refreshes 00:00:53.079 --> 00:00:56.140 starting around $5 ,000, which might just be 00:00:56.140 --> 00:00:58.299 some new fixtures and a fresh coat of paint. 00:00:58.939 --> 00:01:01.439 But then you've got these luxury custom jobs 00:01:01.439 --> 00:01:06.019 that can run over $120 ,000. I mean, can you 00:01:06.019 --> 00:01:08.219 even imagine spending that much on a bathroom? 00:01:09.700 --> 00:01:13.719 That's absolutely mind -blowing. What could possibly 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:17.590 cost that much in a bathroom? Well, here's where 00:01:17.590 --> 00:01:19.989 it gets really interesting. You've got these 00:01:19.989 --> 00:01:23.989 heated floors that run about $1 ,500, gold -plated 00:01:23.989 --> 00:01:27.150 fixtures that can cost thousands, and these high 00:01:27.150 --> 00:01:29.549 -tech Japanese toilets that are basically small 00:01:29.549 --> 00:01:33.310 computers. But here's the crazy part. Those luxury 00:01:33.310 --> 00:01:35.590 items actually have some of the worst returns 00:01:35.590 --> 00:01:38.810 on investment. So you're telling me all those 00:01:38.810 --> 00:01:41.409 fancy upgrades might actually be a waste of money? 00:01:42.170 --> 00:01:47.519 Exactly. Those heated floors? Only 40 -50 % ROI. 00:01:48.719 --> 00:01:51.939 Those fancy gold -plated fixtures. Even worse 00:01:51.939 --> 00:01:55.819 at 30 -40%. But you know what's really fascinating? 00:01:56.599 --> 00:01:59.400 The simple, practical upgrades are consistently 00:01:59.400 --> 00:02:02.540 showing the best returns. We're talking walk 00:02:02.540 --> 00:02:06.159 -in shower conversions with 75 to 85 percent 00:02:06.159 --> 00:02:10.699 ROI, new vanities around 70 to 80 percent, and 00:02:10.699 --> 00:02:13.759 even just updated lighting fixtures giving 70 00:02:13.759 --> 00:02:16.960 to 80 percent back. That makes a lot of sense 00:02:16.960 --> 00:02:19.699 when you think about it. Most buyers probably 00:02:19.699 --> 00:02:22.960 care more about functionality than luxury features. 00:02:23.500 --> 00:02:25.800 And that's precisely why mid -range remodels 00:02:25.800 --> 00:02:28.620 are winning right now. They focus on what buyers 00:02:28.620 --> 00:02:32.370 actually want. Clean lines, good lighting, fresh 00:02:32.370 --> 00:02:36.430 tile, updated fixtures. Plus, they typically 00:02:36.430 --> 00:02:38.810 align better with neighbourhood values, which 00:02:38.810 --> 00:02:43.449 is crucial for resale. Speaking of costs, I've 00:02:43.449 --> 00:02:45.669 heard there are some serious labour shortages 00:02:45.669 --> 00:02:48.789 affecting the construction industry. How's that 00:02:48.789 --> 00:02:51.490 playing into all this? Oh my goodness, it's having 00:02:51.490 --> 00:02:55.050 a huge impact. Licensed plumbers are now charging 00:02:55.050 --> 00:02:59.530 between $85 to $175 per hour. That's up 8 to 00:02:59.530 --> 00:03:02.389 10 percent from just last year. Electricians 00:03:02.389 --> 00:03:04.729 aren't far behind with their rates up 6 to 8 00:03:04.729 --> 00:03:07.569 percent. But here's what really affects homeowners. 00:03:08.110 --> 00:03:10.590 These shortages are actually extending project 00:03:10.590 --> 00:03:13.650 timelines by one to two weeks in many markets. 00:03:14.610 --> 00:03:16.889 That must be putting a real squeeze on homeowners' 00:03:17.330 --> 00:03:20.370 budgets. It definitely is. But there are some 00:03:20.370 --> 00:03:23.990 smart ways to work around it. For instance, booking 00:03:23.990 --> 00:03:26.710 projects two to three months in advance can help 00:03:26.710 --> 00:03:30.490 secure better rates and faster schedules. And 00:03:30.490 --> 00:03:33.090 here's something interesting. The materials market 00:03:33.090 --> 00:03:36.110 is actually starting to stabilize. We're seeing 00:03:36.110 --> 00:03:38.830 only modest two to three percent increases in 00:03:38.830 --> 00:03:41.830 things like porcelain tile and fixtures, compared 00:03:41.830 --> 00:03:44.629 to the wild fluctuations we saw a few years ago. 00:03:45.090 --> 00:03:48.030 That's good news at least. But what about all 00:03:48.030 --> 00:03:50.689 these smart bathroom technologies I keep hearing 00:03:50.689 --> 00:03:54.340 about? Now, that's an interesting trend. The 00:03:54.340 --> 00:03:56.759 costs are actually coming down while adoption 00:03:56.759 --> 00:03:59.900 is going up. You can get a digital shower system 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:04.560 for anywhere from $800 to $3 ,500, smart toilets 00:04:04.560 --> 00:04:08.800 from $1 ,500 to $5 ,000, and even smart mirrors 00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:12.539 with built -in displays from $500 to $2 ,000. 00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:16.279 But here's the catch. These high -tech features 00:04:16.279 --> 00:04:19.379 typically only return about 40 to 50 % of their 00:04:19.379 --> 00:04:23.149 cost. So it sounds like the key is finding that 00:04:23.149 --> 00:04:26.889 sweet spot between modern conveniences and practical 00:04:26.889 --> 00:04:30.670 investments. Exactly. And you know what's fascinating? 00:04:31.170 --> 00:04:33.889 The data shows that smaller strategic updates 00:04:33.889 --> 00:04:37.310 consistently outperform luxury renovations because 00:04:37.310 --> 00:04:39.949 they have broader buyer appeal and aren't over 00:04:39.949 --> 00:04:42.949 -personalised. It's all about making smart choices 00:04:42.949 --> 00:04:46.129 that will stand the test of time. What would 00:04:46.129 --> 00:04:49.230 you say are the absolute must -haves for a bathroom 00:04:49.230 --> 00:04:53.490 remodel in 2026? Well, based on the current trends 00:04:53.490 --> 00:04:57.329 and ROI data, I'd say focus on three main areas. 00:04:58.009 --> 00:05:01.029 First, good lighting. It's relatively inexpensive, 00:05:01.430 --> 00:05:05.310 but makes a huge impact. Second, quality tile 00:05:05.310 --> 00:05:08.329 work. It's the backbone of any bathroom and needs 00:05:08.329 --> 00:05:12.180 to last. And third, a modern vanity with plenty 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:15.100 of storage. That's consistently at the top of 00:05:15.100 --> 00:05:18.639 buyers' wish lists. Those sound like really practical 00:05:18.639 --> 00:05:22.040 priorities. Any final advice for someone planning 00:05:22.040 --> 00:05:25.959 a bathroom remodel? Yes. Remember that while 00:05:25.959 --> 00:05:29.899 the national average is $16 ,500, you can still 00:05:29.899 --> 00:05:32.740 get a beautiful result for less if you plan carefully. 00:05:33.759 --> 00:05:36.259 Focus on those mid -range improvements that have 00:05:36.259 --> 00:05:39.480 proven ROI, book your contractors well in advance 00:05:39.480 --> 00:05:42.240 to avoid premium rates, and don't get caught 00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:44.680 up in the luxury features unless you're planning 00:05:44.680 --> 00:05:47.519 to stay in your home long -term. And please, 00:05:47.720 --> 00:05:50.720 skip the gold -plated fixtures. Unless you're 00:05:50.720 --> 00:05:53.439 planning to live there forever, right? Exactly. 00:05:54.139 --> 00:05:57.139 And even then, think twice. Because at the end 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:59.819 of the day, a well -designed functional bathroom 00:05:59.819 --> 00:06:02.720 with quality materials will bring you more joy. 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:06.040 and better resale value than all the heated floors 00:06:06.040 --> 00:06:07.540 and smart toilets in the world.