Remodeling any room in your house can be extremely stressful especially if it’s a larger project, like a kitchen or bathroom renovation. A few years ago we had our kitchen remodeled and I thought I was prepared for this 3 week project, but quickly realized I wasn’t completely prepared physically, mentally or financially. However I learned a lot during that renovation, so when we decided to have our bathrooms remodeled I felt confident I wouldn’t miss a thing this time around and would be completely prepared. Overall everything went extremely smooth, there were a few hiccups along the way, but during the entire renovation 8 things stood out to me that were making the process pretty stress-free. Below are the 8 tips that made my bathroom renovation a stress-free one and hopefully they’ll make your bathroom renovation stress-free too.
8 Tips for a Stress-Free Bathroom Renovation
1. Set a Budget
Prior to starting my bathroom renovation I set a budget and then deducted 10% to cover unforeseen expenses. However if I had to do it all over again I would have deducted 15%-20% because unforeseen issues and forgotten items can add up fast.
2. Estimates and Research
Once I came up with a budget I started getting estimates from different vendors and researching the cost of products, which I quickly realized I forgot to budget for items like paint and accessories and completely under estimated the cost of demolition and plumbing. *Tip: Do extensive research on all vendors and products; read reviews, check the better business bureau for their rating and call past clients.
3. Don’t be Cheap
There are definitely some areas where you can save money and buy less expensive items, but there are a few items I don’t recommend skimping on, like tile, bathtub(s) and even cabinetry. Unlike lighting, faucets and counter tops, which can easily be replaced, tile and bathtubs cannot. One of the bathtubs I almost purchased had a 5 star review on one website, but after doing additional research I started reading reviews on other websites that listed complaint after complaint that the tub was rusting out after 3-5 years. Needless to say I spent more money on a bathtub than I originally budgeted for, but in the long run I know I saved a lot of money. *Tip: When purchasing items search for coupon codes and sales. I saved hundreds of dollars by shopping sales and using coupons.
4. Be Organized
A must when renovating your bathroom is being organized. I created a spreadsheet to keep track of all of my expenses and set up a separate e-mail folder so I could keep all of my e-mails pertaining to my bathroom renovation together. This should go without saying, but keep ALL of your receipts and shipping invoices, Also, when purchasing items online I highly recommend setting up an account instead of checking out as a “guest,” this way you can easily track all transactions. *Tip: Write down your username and passwords for all accounts.
5. Extended Timeline
Have a timeline and double it! Alright, doubling it may be unrealistic, but keep in mind problems that are out of everyone’s control may come up and if you’re on a tight schedule things will most likely be delayed. I was prepared for delays, which a few did come up, but since I had such a long timeline my bathroom renovation was actually completed sooner than anticipated.
6. Don’t Wait
I was renovating multiple bathrooms and didn’t want materials piled up in my home when they weren’t going to be used right away, so I planned on ordering some items as needed, like toilets. This was a BIG mistake because my bathroom renovation was running ahead of schedule and could have been delayed because I didn’t have the product, but thankfully all of the items I needed were in-stock, shipped immediately and received prior to creating a potential delay.
7. Cleaning
It is next to impossible to keep your home clean during a bathroom renovation. Weeks later I’m still dusting more than normal, but I know it’s not as bad as it could be because during my bathroom renovation I was constantly vacuuming, dusting and changing my AC filters. Once your bathroom renovation is complete I highly recommend hiring a professional cleaning company to clean your house from top to bottom.
8. Payments
Never pay a contractor in full and do not pay the balance due until the work is completed. Once the work is finished make sure to inspect everything so any issues you may have can be addressed immediately.
Hopefully my 8 Tips for a Stress-Free Bathroom Renovation will help you with yours!
8 Tips for a Stress-Free Bathroom Renovation
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