Everyone has a bathroom renovations horror story. A friend of mine once hired a general contractor who started digging up the floor in his small, under-the-stairs bathroom to run wires for a new light fixture.

The contractor was digging so enthusiastically that he drilled right through the wall and into the closet next door — which is technically the other apartment. That project ended with a lawsuit and my friend moaning, “They broke into the wrong house!”

No matter how simple your project seems, it’s important to get your plans straight before you take on this kind of renovation. You’ll want to:

• Plan ahead. Think through your renovation before you start picking out the tile and fixtures, or you could end up spending more than necessary and not getting everything you want.

• Get all the facts. When budgeting and planning, be sure to find out what permits are required for your particular project — electrical, plumbing and something likewise. So, you won’t be caught by surprise when you’re in mid-project. Having permits in hand before starting will also help protect you from lawsuits if someone gets hurt on your property during construction.

• Put together a team of professionals. Even if you’re doing most of the work yourself, you still need someone to guide you. You may not be a master of everything. You still need a professional contractor who takes all the hassle of your work.

How to Choose Bathroom Renovation Professionals?

• Understand the project scope. Your contractor should generate a detailed scope of work or a proposal for you to review before you hire them. Make sure the scope of work is clear, complete and covers everything you need.

• Understand how long it will take. You should get a timeline for the project from your contractor, broken down by week or month, and make sure it matches your expectations and schedule. Know what you want to be done. Your contractor should ask you questions about the look and functionality of your space and use your answers to create a plan that meets your needs.

• Look for contractors and I prefer approaching general contractors. Get references and check them out. Check out the contractor’s previous works; make sure they’re recent, talk to their past clients and follow up on any references they give you.

• Research their reputation online. On social media and their official website, find reviews, testimonials, discussions and more about their work, reputation, customer service and any complaints they may have received.

• Get it in writing. Before you sign anything, make sure you have a written contract that details everything discussed verbally as well as the payment schedule, warranty information and anything else relevant to the job.

• Get bids from at least three contractors for comparison purposes before making a decision on who will perform the work.

How Much Bathroom Renovations Usually Cost?

Remodelling costs, it’s important to think about the scope of the project. The cost of fixtures and flooring is important, but you should also consider the cost of labour, both for the installation and for the demolition and disposal of materials that come out.

Bathroom Renovation costs are driven by two factors: the cost of materials and the amount of time required for labour. Both of these factors depend on the contractor you hire, so you should do your research before signing a contract. Accounting for these variables will help you get an accurate estimate of bathroom renovations costs.

When you get right down to it, bathroom renovations are a series of manageable steps. By asking yourself these questions and putting together an action plan based on your answers, you can make sure the remodel goes as smoothly—and beautifully—as possible.

Tags:;- bathroom renovation, bathroom design