What You Should Do Before Starting A Bathroom Remodel

Remodeling your bathroom will not only make your bathroom look better, it will also make it more functional, as well as raising the value of your home.

Before starting a bathroom remodel, you need to find the right contractor.

There are a few tips that you should follow when hiring your contractor.

Get Recommendations

The best way to find a good contractor is to get recommendations. If you have a family member or a friend who has had a bathroom remodel in the past, and find out who they use.

You can also check with the National Association of Remodeling Industry for members in your area. Another option is to check with your local building inspector.

They will know which contractors consistently meet code requirements. Finally, you can visit your local contractors and ask for free quotes. The people who work there will know which contractors use quality materials and which pay their bills on time religiously.

Phone Interviews

After you have assembled a list of potential contractors, it is a good idea to do phone interviews to find the one that is best. There are several questions that you should ask.

  • Will they take on your size project?
  • Will they provide financial references from suppliers?
  • Can they give you a list of previous clients to get references?
  • How many projects would they be working on at the same time as yours?
  • How long have they been working with their subcontractors?

Face to Face Meeting

After you have completed your phone interviews, you should pick a few contractors to meet in person. It is important that you feel comfortable with the person that you hire, and that you can communicate well. This person will be in your home, asking questions and needing you to make decisions.

Investigation

When you have narrowed down your list, you should do a bit of research. You can contact the contractor’s former clients, to see how satisfied they were with the remodeling process and the finished process.

If your contractor is working on a job currently, you can ask to visit the site. This will give you a chance to see how the subcontractors work, and how careful they are with the homeowner’s property.

Get Bids

Have the contractors on your short list give you bids for the project. This will allow you to get the job done, for the lowest price possible. 

When you get the bids, you should ask for a breakdown of the cost of labor, materials, profit margins, and any other expenses.

Set a Payment Schedule

After you have chosen your contractor, you would need to set up a payment schedule. Most contractors request that clients pay 10 percent of the bid at the time of signing, and three payments of 25 percent spaced evenly.

The final 15 percent is paid when the job has been completed. If your contractor asks for the full amount of the bid up front, this is a red flag that his business may be having financial problems.

Don’t Choose a Contractor Simply By Price

If you have a few bids which are relatively close, and one which is very low, you should not let the price be your guide. If one contractor is charging a great deal less, chances are they are planning on cutting corners, using low quality materials, or they may be desperate for work.

This is the contractor you want to avoid.

Draw Up a Contract

It is a good idea to have a contract with our contractor. The contract should include:

  • Payment schedule
  • Proof of liability insurance and worker’s compensation payments
  • Start date
  • Finish date
  • Specific products and materials that will be used

Hiring a contract is the most important part of your bathroom remodel. If you hire the wrong person, your remodel can be a disaster. In order to choose the best contractor, you should follow the above tips.

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