It’s really exciting whenever you remodel any part of your home (especially the bathroom). But it can be very stressful, too. Bathroom remodeling isn’t a small task to take on, and it definitely takes longer than a weekend. It takes a significant decision just to get started with the remodel, and there’s also many different decisions that need to be made throughout the process. Here are the top 3 things you should think about before diving in.
- Choose the right people for the job.
A remodel can quickly become difficult if you weren’t thoughtful about who you chose to do the job. Are they competent? Have they done a good job in the past? What kind of reputation do they have? There are lots of people who will hire a Joe that doesn’t have experience with this kind of project. Sure, they might know a little bit about carpentry. But there’s also electrical, plumbing, framing, trim work, cabinets, flooring/tile, etc. Those skills are all part of completing the project. The person needs to be competent in all those areas in order to be successful.
- Set a realistic budget.
There can be a pretty wide perception about what kind of budget it takes to do a bathroom remodel. It’s a bit similar to buying a car—you might have $5,000 to spend, but the car you really want ends up being twice that amount.
I would encourage you to do some research online to find out what’s a realistic budget to get the whole bathroom done. Unfortunately, I think that HGTV shows have dumbed down the process. These shows can be very misleading, and give you an unrealistic idea of the remodeling budget.
- Consider how much you’ll be involved in the project.
Most homeowners are going to be involved in some shape or form with the bathroom remodeling project. Pay serious consideration about exactly how you’ll be involved. Do you have the time to make decisions about colors and styles, for example? Those things can sometimes take a significant amount of time. Of course, if you do your own demolition or painting yourself, it can also be extremely time-consuming.
Don’t bite off more than you can chew. Seriously think about the extent of the time and involvement you’ll need before you commit yourself to getting started.
Remember, it could become a huge inconvenience if your home only has one bathroom. Having it torn apart can get you into deep trouble if you don’t have the knowledge to do the job or the money to pay for what really needs to be done. Be sure you’re able to get it back in service in a timely manner.
If you consider these things before you get started, you won’t be stuck with a significant part of your home torn up. If you have any questions, contact us online or give us a call at (540) 685-0366.
