Remodeling your bathroom can be one of the most rewarding home improvement projects. Not only can it improve your quality of life, but it can also enhance your home’s resale value. Whether it’s a new shower or new, beautiful tile, you want your remodel to turn your old bathroom into the bathroom of your dreams.
A bathroom remodeling project can often involve a significant investment of time and money. With such a commitment, you want to ensure you get what you paid for and meet your expectations. One way to ensure you get the best bathroom remodels is to hire a contractor with the right experience to see your project through.
A great contractor should be a great communicator, planner, problem solver, and project manager. They should work to understand the vision you have for your remodel and coordinate a team of professionals to build to your specifications within the specified timeframe and budget. Some contracting companies even offer in-house design services to ensure clients, designers, and contractors are all on the same page.
There are other things you should look out for, too. The following are helpful factors when looking for a bathroom remodel contractor.
Word of mouth– whether through reviews or friends and family – word of mouth is one of the best ways to find a qualified professional for the job. If you know someone who has recently had their bathroom redone, ask them about their experience. Ask what made it a positive experience, how their construction company handled any problems during the project, and whether the person would hire them again for a similar job. Their answers can tell about the business quality they worked with.
You can also contact member businesses of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI). These two organizations work to promote skill development and excellence in remodeling.
Once you have a list of recommendations, you can begin preliminary research. This could include contacting the business by phone or visiting their website. A website can tell you a lot about the contractor in question. Some are into general contracting rather than specializing in bathroom remodeling projects. While not a bad thing, a general contractor may not always include design services, which puts you in charge of hiring a designer and managing communication between the two professionals. You also are in charge of delivering the design plan for your bathroom remodel.
General contractors may also lack the in-depth knowledge of how to do a bathroom remodel efficiently and may not be able to do it as well as a specialized company. Therefore, evaluating potential companies should involve some consideration of their specialties.
During this step of the process, you should also check that they hold all the required licenses from state and local municipalities, as well as any designations from professional associations such as the NKBA and NARI. You should also check that they have the correct insurance coverage should anything go wrong.
Keep in mind not all certifications are equal. Though not necessary, you should consider taking the extra time to learn what the certificate is for and the requirements to get it. You want the contractor’s experience to do the job right.
Narrow down the list of potential candidates and set up meetings. While there is no set number of contractors you should contact, consider limiting it to three or fewer at a time, as too many quotes and interviews could get overwhelming. Of course, contacting more may provide you with a greater range of bids. Use your best judgment when deciding how many interviews to set up.
When interviewing, you should give them a brief overview of their project and ask fundamental questions about their business. Take notes so you can follow up with another meeting later. Scheduling a site visit is also a good idea.
Examples of questions you can ask include:
How contractors answer these questions is essential, as is how they listen. You want to ensure you hire someone who will listen to your design wants and needs and any concerns or further questions you may have during the project. This is a relationship between you and the contractor, so you should trust who you hire to do the job.
Once the contractor has provided references, you should check them to ensure they are recent and up-to-date. You can contact the state licensing board to verify their license number and contact the insurance carrier to confirm they are still insured.
You may reach out to references, but remember that these references are often favorites or top clients, so that reviews may skew positively. You can make sure these reviews are genuine by paying attention to any red flags that might appear, such as a lack of recent project references, consistently high-cost overruns, or consistently poor courtesy reviews on their website or Google Business profile.
A benefit of reviewing previous work is that you can take note of any projects or features you may want to add to your bathroom remodel. You can also determine if this contractor meets your bathroom remodel expectations.
You’ve decided on a contractor and are confident in your choice. The next step is to look at the documents they prepared, especially their estimates for materials and labor. Verbal estimates mean little, especially in a court of law. Numbers can be forgotten or misheard, even with the best intentions, so ensure you get those estimates in writing so you are both on the same page.
The same can go for the final contract. Ensure it is fair and balanced and everything you agree on is in writing.
As part of your careful review of the contract, you should also look for:
Establish A Project Schedule: Before signing that contract, clarify the project schedule with the bathroom remodel contractor. This includes the date the remodel can start and how long the project is expected to take. To make sure you are both on the same page, you should ask for the project schedule to be added to the contract so you can review it and note any potential scheduling conflicts.
Sign The Contract: After you have done all the above, you can finally sign the contract. Both you and the contractor should sign the contract and date it. Work will begin on the day agreed, and you can look forward to a brand-new bathroom.
The Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling team works hard to give you the bathroom you’ve always dreamed about. We offer in-house design services in the San Diego area, including La Jolla, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, and surrounding areas.
Our bathroom remodeling contractors have many years of experience and pride themselves on completing projects efficiently and on time. We want you to be satisfied with our work and enjoy your new bathroom remodel for years. Contact us for a complimentary design consultation today if you’ve been considering a bathroom remodel.
Remodeling your bathroom can improve your quality of life, enhance your home’s resale value, and transform your old bathroom into the bathroom of your dreams.
A great contractor should be an excellent communicator, planner, problem solver, and project manager. They should understand your vision and coordinate a team to execute the remodel within the specified timeframe and budget.
You can ask for referrals from friends and family who’ve recently had bathroom remodels, read reviews or contact member businesses of the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) and the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI).
Ensure they hold the required licenses from state and local municipalities, have designations from professional associations like NKBA and NARI, and check their insurance coverage. Not all certifications are equal, so consider understanding the certificate’s value and requirements.
The contract should include a bid price and payment schedule, the scope of work, a site plan, a change-order clause, written procedures for close-out, an express limited warranty, a dispute resolution clause, and a lien waiver. Before signing, clarify the project schedule and ensure it’s added to the contract.
Kimberly Villa is a recognized expert in the Home Design and Remodeling industry. Her passion for the industry is matched only by her love for sharing insights, new trends, and design ideas. Kimberly’s expertise and enthusiasm shine through in her contributions to the Kaminskiy Design and Remodeling website blog, where she regularly shares valuable information with readers.
