A nicely done up bathroom could be one of the best home improvement investments you can make, creating a higher resale value for your home, or be the key to getting it sold quickly. Of course, the critical point here is not to over-improve on the renovation, that is spending more than you can recoup when you sell. Comparing current market valuations in your neighborhood or state can help inform you what the market will bear. It is also useful to know what newly developed homes near yours feature in terms of number of bathrooms, type of bathroom furniture and fittings, as well as finishes. This can provide an insight to interior design trends where you live.

If you are remodeling the bathroom for your own use, even better! Your level of enjoyment and pride of ownership of your home will be greatly increased. Either way, it translates to a better quality of life for you.

When someone visits your home, or is looking to buy it, it's often the bathroom that makes the person decide whether he or she likes the place or not. It's about comfort and well being, far more than just for cleansing necessities!

As you embark on your home improvement project, it's tempting to jump straight into the fun part - shopping. If you tend to buy things impulsively, such as fixtures and fittings or building materials that are on sale, you may find out later that the various components do not match or are technically incompatible. Without the proper calculations, you may even run short of materials. Such unpleasant surprises are unnecessary sources of stress and unforseen costs. The better way is to literally start at the drawing board, with an assessment your current bathroom, and the outcome you would like to accomplish.

Here are a few questions to consider as you get started:

1) What dissatisfies you about your current bathroom situation? Waiting in line for the bathroom sink or shower in the mornings? Or the traffic flow in or near the bathroom? Is it lack of storage, or a lack of elbow space? Or is it too dark? Or are your towels constantly damp?

2) What must you have in your new bathroom? These are the key Must-Have's or Must-Not-Have's that are motivating the change.

3) What would you like to have in your new bathroom? Consider these carefully in the planning phase, as they are easier to include in your plans looking ahead rather than in retrospect. Including these Nice-To-Have's can make a real difference to your sense personal satisfaction and accomplishment in the outcome of your bathroom remodeling.

4) And what budget have you set aside to accomplish this? Make a list of your aims and priorities. Get a sense of market rates by window-shopping for products & services online as this will save you time and money and hassle.

5) Who will be doing the work? Yourself on a DIY basis, or with subcontractors for the plumbing, masonry etc, or professionals such as an interior designer to do the space planning as well. If you wish to tackle it yourself, consider your available time, tools, skills and interest as realistically as possible. Also, find out what building codes apply to the scope of remodeling you have in mind. If seeking a contractor or professional, get referrals and estimates beforehand.

You'll soon realize there's numerous design considerations, execution and project management aspects of the project, as well as a huge variety of bathroom furniture, fittings, finishes, and decorations to choose from...perhaps overwhelmingly so. But without a coordinated approach, you run the risk of exceeding your allocated time or budget and end up with the less than desired results. In conclusion, the key to successful bathroom remodeling is... Planning.

For more bathroom remodeling planning ideas, tips and traps, visit www.InspiringBathrooms.com