Bathroom Renovations and Home Value: What Laval & Montreal Homeowners Should Know

If you're weighing which renovation to tackle first, the numbers keep pointing to the same room: the bathroom. National data from two of Canada's largest brokerages puts bathrooms among the top three renovations for return on investment — and in a Quebec market that's becoming more selective, a dated bathroom is often the first thing that gives a buyer pause.

What the numbers say

Royal LePage's Home Renovation ROI Report found that a bathroom renovation can increase a home's value by an average of 16% — behind only kitchens (20%) and ahead of finished basements (15%) and outdoor living spaces (10%). Separately, RE/MAX Canada estimates that a well-executed bathroom renovation recoups roughly 50 to 85% of its cost at resale, averaging around 62%, and reports that bathrooms ranked among the top three ROI renovations in 17 housing markets across the country, including Toronto and Vancouver.

What that looks like in Laval and Montreal

Applied to local numbers, that 16% is real money. The median price of a single-family home in Laval sits around $580,000 in 2026 — a 16% lift is roughly $93,000 in added value. In Montreal, where the median single-family home runs closer to $797,000, the same 16% works out to about $127,000. These are directional averages, not guarantees — the actual return depends on your neighbourhood, the quality of the work, and the state of your bathroom before you start — but they show why this particular project keeps showing up at the top of renovation-ROI lists.

What a bathroom renovation actually costs here

In Quebec, a full bathroom renovation typically runs $16,000 to $55,000, with most homeowners landing between $20,000 and $25,000 for a complete redo — new tile, vanity, tub or shower, plumbing, and lighting. A lighter refresh (paint, a new vanity, updated fixtures and accessories) can run as little as $5,000 to $12,000. RE/MAX's data suggests the sweet spot for resale value is the middle of that range: a $15,000–$35,000 renovation with a new vanity, modern tile, updated fixtures, and improved lighting tends to return 70–85% of its cost — often outperforming ultra-premium, highly customized builds.

Why bathrooms matter more in today's market

Quebec's real estate market is moderating in 2026 after several exceptionally active years, and the province's real estate brokers association (APCIQ) reports buyers acting with more caution and selectivity, particularly for single-family homes. In a market like that, a renovated bathroom does double duty: it adds resale value, and it removes one of the easiest reasons for a cautious buyer to walk away or negotiate the price down. If your renovation also touches ventilation, insulation, or heating, it's worth checking whether it qualifies for provincial programs like Rénoclimat or the Canada Greener Homes Loan — they won't fund a purely cosmetic refresh, but they can offset the cost of the mechanical upgrades that often go along with a full remodel.

Getting the most out of your investment

• Prioritize the vanity, tile, fixtures, and lighting — RE/MAX's data shows this combination drives most of the resale return.
• Stay in the mid-range. A $15,000–$35,000 renovation historically recoups more of its cost, percentage-wise, than an ultra-premium build.
• Choose finishes a broad range of buyers will like, not just what suits your own taste — neutral, timeless choices hold value better at resale.
• Keep documentation. Photos, permits, and receipts support both a future sale and any insurance claim if water damage is ever involved.
• If you're renovating after water damage, make sure the underlying issue is fixed first — cosmetic work on top of a moisture problem won't hold its value.

Whether you're renovating to enjoy the space yourselves or preparing to sell in the next few years, a bathroom renovation remains one of the more reliable ways to put money back into your home. Renovision AnA plans and builds kitchen and bathroom remodels across Laval and Montreal, from a quick refresh to a full gut renovation — get a rough estimate in minutes with our chat tool, or give us a call.