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Renovating a bathroom is no small task. But upgrading your outdated bathroom is often a worthy investment, especially if you’re looking to increase the value of your home.
Write Out a Detailed Wish List For Your Bathroom Rennovation
When you buy a home, you often go in with a “wish list” of items (3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a large backyard, etc.). There are some items on the list that are non-negotiable, and others that “would be nice to have…”
You need to make this exact same type of list for your bathroom renovation.
Spend an hour inside the space you’re renovating writing down “wants” and “needs”. It’s pretty important that you and your roomie/spouse/partner are on the same page from the start on what you want for the space, so make sure you do this step together if applicable!
Learn What to DIY vs. What to Hire Out
Renovating a bathroom yourself can definitely save you money because professional labor is often the most expensive part of any renovation. However, if you don’t have the time (or skills) to DIY, this will not be the best option for you. My advice? Make a list of every single task that you think needs to be done in the space … all the way from the demolition to installing the final light fixture.
Some of the small tasks can definitely be done by yourself, even with little to no DIY skills.
The number one task we’d recommend doing yourself is the demolition of the space.
As long as you wear the proper safety gear, you can gut your bathroom in a weekend.
Other (more advanced) tasks are often best left to the professionals. These things include:
- Waterproofing the shower
- Moving plumbing fixtures
- Moving lighting fixtures
Consider Hiring a Designer to Finalise the Floor Plan Before You Touch Anything
If you plan to move plumbing and electrical fixtures, you may want to consider hiring a designer to help plan the layout of the space. Yes, this comes at a cost, but it may save you headaches and expensive mistakes down the line.
A designer can also help you source items and figure out the style and look of the space they’re tasked on.
Find and Hire a Contractor
Finding the right contractor is no easy job. You want someone who is reliable, trustworthy, and will do good work. You can ask neighbours, friends or check out comparison websites. We recommend meeting with at least two to three potential contractors to get in-person estimates.
Here are some questions to ask when interviewing for a contractor:
- What will this project entail?
- How long will it take?
- Do I need to be home?
- Can you break down the cost of labor and materials?
- Are the materials included?
- When can you start? Is that date firm?
- Do I need a building permit?
- How will payment work?
- How will you protect my home?
- What are the next steps?
It’s important to over-communicate with your contractor and make sure you’re on the same page from the start. If you’re DIY-ing some tasks of the renovation, you’ll want to discuss this with them ahead of time to make sure they recommend that. Outline exactly what you need your contractor to do and what you would be handling ourselves, so they are “in the know” from the start!
Set the Budget and Order Your Bathroom Renovation Stuff Now
Once you find a contractor that’s the right fit, you’ll get an estimate from them for the project. Understand what they will be providing for the renovation and what you will need to buy yourself.
Which means if you are DIY’ing portions of the project, now is the time to gather your tools and supplies to get the job done. Look up each task and make a list of the tools you will need. You may need to rent a few power tools (like a wet saw for tiling), so keep those rental costs in mind. Or see if you can borrow some of these larger tools from friends or neighbors. When it comes to DIY supplies, local home improvement stores are your best bet. Our advice? Go in with a detailed list and try to visit on a weeknight when the store will be less crowded and you can get one-on-one attention from an employee.
As for the new bathroom products, now is the time to place your order. While you can certainly hit up the big box home improvement stores, you will find a lot of success with online retailers.
If you take away one piece of advice from this entire article, I hope it’s this next part: Order all of your products now and do not start your renovation until everything has arrived.
Sometimes you can place an order for a vanity or shower hardware, only to find that it’s back ordered for six weeks! You don’t want your entire renovation on hold because of that, so order everything and get it delivered before the project physically starts!
Make a Timeline
Now that all of your product is ordered (and arriving soon!), you can create a bathroom renovation timeline. Communicate this timeline with everyone involved in the project … your contractor, designer, spouse, family members, etc.
Try and reserve every weekend for a month on your calendar (as well as your partner). That way you don’t book anything during that time, and could focus on getting the job done. But even though you have a timeline, know that it will probably change. Go in with a plan, but be flexible because you’re always going to run into problems!
Have a Physical Place to Survive During Renovations
Chances are you’ll be living in your home throughout your bathroom renovation, so it’s important to have a plan on how you’re going to continue to live amongst the dust and chaos. Provide “sanctuaries” away from the chaos of the renovation.
Create these safe zones ahead of time and vow to keep those areas clean and free from any of your bathroom mess. Trust me, you’ll need those retreats when you’re living through a renovation.
I know you may be eager to start smashing away your outdated bathroom to get it looking fresh, clean, and modern. But it’s important to do work upfront before you get started. That way you have a clear idea of the amount of money and time you’ll need to create the bathroom of your dreams!
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