If there’s a part of the house that usually costs a lot to rehab apart from the kitchen, it would be the bathroom. Making sure that bathrooms are dead gleaming and attractive is simply SOP when doing a fix and flip. That is why real estate rehabbers often spend a lot of money on this room; some investors even install new cabinetry. There are basically two types of bathroom cabinets and you can choose from these types when you flip a house.

But before you even shop for new cabinetry, which could be pretty expensive, make sure first that you indeed need to install them in the bathrooms. Will simple refinishing do? Most baths would do with the usual vanity cabinets, eliminating the need for wall cabinets. If you feel that they are necessary, especially if the vanity type doesn’t provide enough storage space, and they won’t cram the room, then choose from these two types.

The first type is called the face frame. Local manufacturers often have a stock of these models. Basically, they have a frame in front, right where the doors are attached. These frames are often made from 1×2” hardwood. They serve as a good base for hinges that hold the windows. The frame also makes the whole unit more rigid, and therefore manufacturers can use lower quality materials for the slides. This is a practical choice, especially if you are after saving some money without actually compromising the quality – the essence of a fix and flip project.

The other type is called the frameless type, or in many areas, the European type. These usually have a thicker boards as top, back, base, and side units. That’s because, they literally, are frameless in front. Therefore, the doors are directly attached to the body. If storage space in the bathroom you are to fix and flip is an issue, frameless types are a good option. They provide slightly more storage because of the absence of the frames. Not many local manufacturers make this type though.

When flipping homes, you are usually pressed for time so what many rehabbers do is they shop for ready to install cabinets. If you choose to buy stock cabinets, be sure to properly measure the dimensions of the room. As a guide, most vanity cabinets are around the 32 inches tall. Their width and depth vary. A lot of companies offer free estimation, and that will include measurement of dimensions. Some rehabbers like semi-stock, or those that are can be adjusted a little to fit.

If you really the need to make the bathroom perfect by installing cabinets, you can ask your carpenter to make them for you. That is, if he knows how to. You can also look for local custom makers although it is going to be expensive. Again, go for custom only if you believe that it would be bang for your buck. Otherwise, go for stock or don’t install cabinets at all.

Remember, when flipping homes, you don’t need to be stingy on upgrades that would give a three-fold return on value. Cabinets may or may not be worth it, so the actual debate isn’t which type would fit well in the bathroom your are rehabbing; it’s knowing whether or not you should install them in your fix and flip project.