You spend more time in your bathroom than you may realize. It’s a place where you get ready. It’s a place where you relax. And it’s a place where you help mold your children, whether through bath time or through girly makeovers with your daughters.
Because of the amount of time you spend in your bathroom, and because bathrooms sell houses, it’s very important that you update your bathroom when necessary. Not only will this allow you to use your bathroom with ease, but it will also add equity into your home.
However, a bathroom renovation is not always easy, so before you start creating the bathroom of your dreams, remember the following four things first.
1 Know your style.
Before you start renovating your bathroom, have an idea of the style of bathroom you want. This will help you reduce your options when it comes to choosing tile, paint color, finishes, etc., which will help make the process easier. You should know if you want a traditional look, or if you’re opting to use all organic bathroom materials. This will not only reduce your choices, but it can also help you determine your budget.
2 Create a budget, and stick with it.
Make sure you take a good hard look at your finances and understand your bathroom renovation budget. Be sure to use this budget to price out materials and labor, but you should also save about 10 to 20 percent of that budget for incidentals. When you renovate your bathroom or any room in your home, it’s possible that you will incur unexpected expenses, such as a brokenwater pipe or faulty wiring. If you don’t have a reserve in your budget, you’ll end up going over your budget or cutting the wrong corners, which could be disastrous in the long run.
3 DIY vs. Professional
When you think about your bathroom renovation, determine if you want to tackle the job yourself or if you’d rather hire a professional. Keep in mind that a professional will ensure the job is done right, and it may get done more quickly; however, it may cost more. You also have the option of doing some of the project yourself, such as tiling and painting, and then using a professional for the items you don’t know how to handle, such as the plumbing or the electrical. Before you decide, make sure you know which option is the best choice for your budget, and go from there.
4 Check with your local community.
Before you start a project on your home, you should check with your local government to determine if there are any permits you need to get for the renovation. Some cities require permits as well as inspections, while others do not. Plus, some cities charge for the permits while others do not. Knowing this ahead of time will allow you to not only add it to your budget, but also allow you to run the project correctly so that you’re not halted or fined for not verifying with the city first.
This article crafted and delivered by RitzPlumbing.
