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Sometimes adding a bathroom to a home or remodeling an existing bathroom has to happen. Maybe your family has grown and a new bathroom is a must if your morning routine is ever going to be peaceful again. Perhaps you’re trying to sell a home and nothing you put in your MLS listing is going to make up for your singular, tiny, outdated bathroom.

Well, the good news is that adding a bathroom to your home or remodeling an existing bathroom is worth the money and effort. According to Remodeling Magazine, an average bathroom remodel will cost about $15,782, of which at least $10,295 can be recouped upon selling the home. The average cost of a new bathroom will run you about $37,501, of which about $20,569 or more can be recouped at sale.

If you decide to follow through with a bathroom remodel or bathroom addition project, there are a lot of things to consider to ensure you get the most bang for your buck. When you decide to remodel, the absolute first order of business is determining if this project is something you should do yourself or if hiring the services of a professional are in order. Bathrooms are tricky because they involve a lot of wiring and plumbing that has to be up to code to be safe.  If you have professional skills in these areas and want to invest in the time it’ll take to complete the task, doing it yourself may be a good choice, but if not, you should hire a contractor.

Whether you decide to do it yourself or hire a contractor, there are some common (and costly) bathroom remodeling mistakes that you can avoid if you’re aware of them.

Failing to obtain necessary permits. If the changes you’re making to an existing bathroom are cosmetic, you likely won’t need a permit. However, if you are adding a new bathroom or making major renovations to a bathroom, such as installing new plumbing fixtures or increasing the size of the room, obtaining the appropriate permits is imperative. Permits not only help increase the likelihood of the safety of the structure due to requirements and inspections, it can also help ease the mind of a buyer.

Budgeting too little. You saw the costs of adding a bathroom or remodeling a bathroom. Though as you read, adding a bathroom is a hefty investment and you likely had a moment of sticker shock. That’s okay, look on the bright side: At least you know now before starting your project what the costs could run. So many others dive into these projects expecting everything to go smoothly, while also having unrealistic ideas of how much can be safely and attractively accomplished with their budget. If I were you, I’d budget more than what Remodeling Magazine indicated because you never know if you’ll encounter water damage, rot and even mold. Then if you come in under budget, you can throw a little party that your project is done.

Valuing price over quality. You don’t want to go over budget, but you shouldn’t cheap out, either. Not everything you put in the bathroom needs to be top shelf, but invest a little more money in the areas of the project that could use some extra attention. Be sure to include high-quality sink and shower fixtures so you don’t have to replace them again in just a few years. Using inferior underlayment on your subfloor can result in water damage. Importantly, if you hire a contractor, don’t skimp there, either: The cheapest option isn’t necessarily the best.

Following the latest trend. Remodeling or adding a bathroom isn’t the same as painting a wall or putting down new carpeting. Tile and counter tops take a lot more effort and expense to replace. Bathtubs, sinks and toilets are permanent fixtures.  Today’s chandelier in the bathroom trend will likely be the ugly – I mean – olive green sink of the ’70s or the mauve toilet of the ‘90s. Consider designs and pallets with a more classic, timeless look. Neutral colors or even off-shade whites can never go wrong. And with a somewhat blank canvas like this, you can add all the character you want through decoration and towel choices.

Failing to hire a good contractor. This mistake can creep up on you whether you hire a contractor or not. If you don’t hire a good contractor, do it yourself, and botch the job, it’s going to be twice as expensive to have a professional fix it. If you do hire a contractor, and don’t do your homework to find out how good they are, once again, your project could end up being twice as expensive to have another remodeler fix it. Some research up front can help you make the right decision and save you time and money.

Remodeling a home is a big project. But it’s worth the investment, especially if your family bathroom is experiencing growing pains or your MLS listing isn’t quite stacking up to other properties in your neighborhood. Making some bad choices about a bathroom remodel project can result in heartache and higher construction costs. But if you do your homework, this improvement to your house can improve your life, grow your home value, and/or increase the likelihood of selling a home.

Do you know what your home is worth? Check out how calculate home value to see how much a new bathroom or remodeled bathroom may help.