Bathroom remodeling can be both exciting and stressful. While the end results may be beautiful, and remodeling can certainly improve property values, the time before and during a remodel can be fraught with difficulty. This is because remodels are often costly, and can disrupt house hold routines. With proper preparation, however, a remodel can go smoothly and with minimal disruption. Follow these tips to help you plan your upcoming remodel.
Meet with several contractors and get many bids before deciding on the right contractor for you. Come prepared to each meeting with a list of questions that includes their years of experience, certifications, and what ideas they might have for your bathroom remodel. Never hire a contractor that will give a quote without seeing your bathroom first!
Meeting with multiple candidates, listening to their ideas and getting multiple quotes will allow you to pinpoint a fair asking price for your remodel, and may influence what changes you decide to include in your remodel.
Perhaps the most important part of any remodel is establishing a budget and sticking to it. The contractor you hire must provide you with an itemized, fixed-price bid that will not go up. The bid must show all parts of the remodel, from demolition to labor, materials, installation, and clean up. Both parties must sign the bid in order to make it official, and you will need to keep a copy for your records.
The National Kitchen and Bathroom Association reports that the average cost of a bathroom remodel is around $16,000. For many homeowners, this price tag may be a bit high. Talk to your contractor about ways that you can reduce costs. You may be able to save money by buying your own materials, or by eliminating some of the more costly alterations to your bathroom.
Remember that many remodels will only increase property value to a certain point. The more expensive the remodel, the less you may recoup when you sell your home. By keeping your bathroom remodel reasonably priced, you’re more likely to make back the money when you move.
If your family will be living without a bathroom for any period of time, they’re going to need to know exactly how long the bathroom will be out of service, when it will be available for use, and what they’re going to do for a toilet in the interval. Your family members will also need to know when the remodel will be its noisiest, so as to not disrupt normal routines.
Establish a timeline with your contractor. Know what days your water service will be turned off, and what the noise levels will be like on each day.
This may be a good time to look into portable hand washing stations and portable toilets, so you and your family members won’t be without a restroom for any period of time. gotügo has all these services and more. Take a look at the units we offer on our website, or contact us to speak with a representative.
