We have come a long way since the outhouse days

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It may sound loo-dicrous but there is money in a good dunny. Research by Money.com.au has revealed that a luxe lav can add tens of thousands to your home’s value.

This includes everything from adding modern touches like wall-hung toilets and self-cleaning options to choosing sleek bowl designs that elevate bathroom aesthetics.

A Portarlington resident installed a gold toilet, complete with matching golden accessories such as the toilet roll holder, Versace-inspired toilet roll basket, a little chandelier and a gold patterned wallpaper.

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While we can’t see the loo, it might be a safe bet that the Versace theme in this Gold Coast bathroom continues behind closed doors. It was on the market last year.

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Brisbane-based buyer’s agent Andrew Pizzino said the humble water closet (WC) and its features can make all the difference in how much a property sells for.

“When two properties are nearly identical on paper — same dwelling type, land size, suburb, and floor plan — how do you tell them apart?” he said.

“In these cases, we look at replacement value to determine a property’s worth.

“For example, a property with an imported bidet toilet seat, or even better, a fully functioning Japanese-style toilet, can add anywhere from $500 to $20,000 in value.”

This lavish loo comes with a bidet and is on the market in McMahons Point in NSW

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Canberra real estate agent Catherine Halloran said that even small, quirky bathroom details can have a significant impact — positive or negative — on buyer impressions.

“I had a property with a decorative Union Jack toilet seat one time, and it was amazing how something that would be so easily and cheaply fixed caused prospective buyers to pause,” she said.

“I’d also say that combining the toilet with the bathroom often backfires as most buyers I meet prefer a separate toilet, so merging them can actually reduce the value of a renovation.”

She estimates that a basic bathroom renovation can add $10,000 to $15,000 in value to a standard family home, and this should always include doing the toilet to match.

This luxe lav is for sale in New Farm Brisbane, with a house around it of course

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According to hipages, an average bathroom renovation can cost anywhere from $8000 to $35,000.

Even the thunderbox has gold features. This loo with a view is for sale at Tallebudgera Valley on the Gold Coast

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But several Aussies have given the old thunderbox a glam up for much less.

Currumbin Waters homeowner Ebony Basten, a DIY enthusiast, did a $750 makeover of her toilet which went viral attracting over 7.6 million views on Instagram and 1.9 million on TikTok.

“I used tile paint to refresh my old tiles, added VJ panels to the walls, and used tile stencils

for a custom look,” she said.

“The total cost was $750, but since I already had many materials and tools from DIY projects, my out-of-pocket expense for the toilet was $500.

“It was a bit of a joke with my friends and family that the toilet was the nicest room in the

house and that they/we just wanted to spend all our time in there.”

Ebony estimates that her toilet room upgrade alone has added up to $5,000 in value to her

home.

Ebony Basten sitting on her TikTok famous loo

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And what it looked like before

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Jodie Holmes, 50, from Mackay renovated an original 1970s bathroom into something more

sleek, but also opted for practically.

“Our loo now has an amazing view with sensor lights that makes it easier to use at night,”

she said.

Jodie Holmes’ bathroom after a reno

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Dominika Anogianakis from North Kellyville, NSW, estimates that refreshing her guest toilet

room cost about $500, including the electrician.

“We added a rose and peony wallpaper, updated the tapware and handle on the existing

vanity, and installed a new mirror, towel holder, and toilet paper holder,” she said.

“Being the guest toilet, it’s one of the main areas visitors will see.

“That’s why I chose this room to get creative and leave a lasting impression on my guests. “Not every room has to be vanilla.”

Dominika Anogianakis’ guest toilet before a reno

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Dominika Anogianakis’ guest toilet after a reno

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Tanya Megaw from Adelaide chose a top-of-the-line smart toilet as part of a larger bathroom

renovation.

“My loo washes, dries, heats, and lights up,” she said.

“After travelling internationally, I fell in love with the concept of a smart toilet — it’s so hygienic.

“I had to find a plumber experienced with the installation, as they’re not very common here. “The toilet itself cost about $1,000 more than a standard one, and installation was an additional $1000, but it was totally worth it.”

Tanya Megaw’s bathroom after renovation

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Meanwhile, homeowner Charles Corby’s black toilet is famous.

“The builder actually found the toilet on Facebook marketplace for $70 and I went and picked

it up that night. We then ordered the in-wall system online and then the black button panel

from eBay,” he said.

“Everyone comments on the black toilet as if it’s a house feature.”

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The most expensive toilet currently available at Bunnings is $4816.50 by special order.

In 2020, NASA launched a $23 million space toilet to the International Space Station.

Oh and a happy belated World Toilet Day, which was held on Tuesday, November 19.

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This latrine in Mornington in Victoria can defy gravity

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