Whether you’re planning to sell your home, attending to needed repairs or updating an out-of-date design, it is important to set a goal for the reasons behind your bathroom renovation. By doing so, your renovation checklist will be easier to follow and will assist in you staying on budget.
The following items should be considered to keep you focused while planning the final bathroom remodel results from your imagination.
1. Preparation for a Bathroom Renovation
Changing the original design of any bathroom structure requires knowledge and experience that most homeowners lack. However, you can reduce the stress level by taking a few preliminary steps yourself:
- Review your budget — Determine the amount of money you can spend before calling a contractor. Cheap fixtures and flooring need to be replaced sooner than mid-range or higher quality materials and furnishings. In this case, it may be beneficial to splurge on quality fixtures or flooring.
- Splurge on individual features — Inexpensive toilets typically come with lesser quality flushing controls and gaskets that develop leaks. Spending a little more for a better-named brand often pays off in the long run.
- Create budget wiggle room — Regardless of the project, something always comes up that no one could foresee. A rotted floor support near the sink or toilet, an electrical issue inside the wall or fixtures, or a slow leak behind the wall result in additional material and labor.
- Sketch out your floor plan — Use your imagination combined with the functionality you desire and what fixtures and wall materials you envision. If you wish to relocate fixtures, consider how much new wiring and plumbing it requires. Have the contractor jot down that cost associated with each change.
2. Locating a Reputable Remodeling Contractor
Switching out a light bulb, or replacing a faucet setting, is easy enough to accomplish for most homeowners. Keep in mind that it costs more to undo DIY mistakes than it is to hire a qualified and reputable contractor who steps in and gets the job done right the first time. There are several benefits associated with the hiring of a professional, experienced contractor:
- Professional expertise — Contractors always know the latest in materials and pricing and where to get the best deals.
- Experience — A professional has a trained eye as a result of years of experience.
- Customer Satisfaction — The result of the bathroom renovation always looks professional and results in Customer Satisfaction.
- Stress relief and enjoyment — A professional takes out all the worry, stress, and anxiety so that the outcome is a well-designed bathroom you enjoy for years to come.
- Future selling potential – Always think about the future and what happens if there is a reason you need to quickly sell your home. The typical new home buyer looks for property to move into immediately without any concern for renovations, or corrections.
3. Discovering Where to Save Money
Even if working with a contractor, there are a few bathroom renovation activities you might consider doing yourself. Be sure to ask the contractor if there is any problem with you doing some of the work, and what time they need you out of the way. A word of caution here, on any work that you do, most contractors will want some insurance that they are not liable if the result fails your expectations. In most cases, limit your involvement to purchasing fixtures, paint, wall covering or tile, vanities and other furnishings. Let the contractor supply the professional labor.
- Fixtures — If you plan to use non-standard fixtures, ask the contractor for permission to locate and purchase them, yourself. As a rule, this could save up to 10 percent of the total as well as relieving the contractor since there is no mistake as to what fixtures you wanted.
- Flooring — Whether the current floor is linoleum, vinyl or tile, there is a chance the contractor will allow you to remove it and even put down the new flooring yourself. Once all the fixtures are out of the bathroom, this is a good time to tackle this part on your own.
- Painting and wall covering — Occasionally, homeowners have previous experience painting walls and hanging wallpaper. Not only can you save money by doing this part of the labor, but you can also seek additional savings by purchasing paint and wallpapers directly. Talk this over with the contractor to keep everyone on the same page.
If the above information helped answer some of your questions about what it takes to execute a successful bathroom renovation and you would like more information, we at Copper Creek Construction of Las Vegas, NV can be of great assistance. Contact us today! As certified remodeling professionals, we will help you create a functional personalized sanctuary.
