Budgeting a Bathroom Renovation

So now that we’re approaching the middle of Upstate New York’s wonderful winter season, you’re probably ready for a change in scenery, since you’ve been “stuck” inside for weeks. A lot of homeowners opt for indoor renovation projects in the winter, and we see an increase in the amount of quote requests for bathroom projects. So for this month, let’s talk bathrooms!

Crunch the Numbers

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2014 Cost vs. Value report, a mid-range bathroom remodel might run you somewhere in the neighborhood of 15.8 thousand dollars. Before you lose your mind over that figure, consider that your investment will vary greatly depending on how you define “mid-range,” the size of your space, and numerous other factors. In the end, the amount you spend may actually be much less. A good place to start is with an honest evaluation of your finances. Come up with a number that you are feasibly able to spend on the project. The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) has a budgeting worksheet to make this step a breeze.

Let’s next consider how long you plan on staying in your home. This can give you a better idea of how valuable this project should be to you. If you plan on staying for less than five years, consider your project an improvement on investment, and consider how you can best improve the value of your home and improve its ability to sell. If you’re planning on staying more than five years, it’s acceptable to consider the comfort of you and your family over the ability of your home to sell.

Substitutions and Omissions

When you budget for a bathroom project, it’s important to remember to include labor costs. As a general rule, a third of your budget will be put towards labor.

Should you find that your budget needs a trim, start with the extras (a towel warmer, steam shower, etc.). From there, consider some other investment options, such as having an old tub re-glazed versus buying a brand new one. If you’re planning on changing the layout of the room, the plumbing is a big cost than might be able to be omitted by keeping the layout the same.

Leave Yourself Leeway

When you open up the walls and floors of any home, surprises tend to pop up. Plan for these little surprises by leaving some cushion in your budget to accomodate. Last minute changes are also a source for budget-busting costs, so try to finalize your plans before project start, and keep mid-project revisions to a minimum if at all possible.

On top of your labor costs, set aside 10 percent to cover the cushion. If you don’t use it, you’ll have ample funds to buy the little luxuries (towel warmers, fluffy towels, a nice massaging shower head, etc.).

Keeping On Budget

Once you’ve finalized your project, keep a spreadsheet to track actual expenses against what’s been budgeted. When you can visualize the impact on your project’s bottom line, you’re less likely to go over.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

Hiring A Bathroom Renovation Contractor

Hiring a contractor to renovate or remodel your home is a big decision (or any part of your home for that matter). The company you choose to work with will be a part of your life for weeks or months to come. Their employees will be in and out of your home with access to private areas. You want to be sure you select the bathroom renovation contractor carefully, after doing research and reading some reviews.

We proudly present the top 5 things to do before hiring a bathroom contractor:

1. Ask Around — Check in with friends, family and co-workers to see if they've used a reputable contractor in the past. Many contractors, like Trinity, work on a number of home projects (not just bathrooms). Although, that is not always the case. If someone refers you to someone who did their roof or did a minor home improvement project, don't just assume they're a good fit for remodeling your residential bathroom. They might be—but not necessarily.


2. Read Reviews — Doing some simple Google searches can reveal a lot of helpful information about a contractor. In addition to the reviews on the company's website, be sure to read the testimonials on other third party sites like Angie's List, The Better Business Bureau, Houzz, Google and Yelp. The contractor has little to no control over the reviews posted on those sites so they're generally very reliable.


3. Narrow Down The List — There are likely many home contractors vying for your business in your area. After doing your homework, choose two or three that you'd like to pursue.


4. Ask For References — After narrowing the list down to two or three contractors, ask each of them for references and make a couple calls.


5. Obtain Estimates & Information — Meet with each company individually. Ask for specifics on everything from insurance to licensing requirements they might posses. Obtain a clear estimate including pricing details. Unclear on something? ASK! Now is the time to make sure you fully understand how the project will work. Any reputable home renovation company will take the time to sit down with your or chat over the phone to iron out any questions you may have.

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com

From Lavender To Luxury — New Bathroom Remodel

These homeowners in Irondequoit used to have a dated bathroom with lavender counters and outdated fixtures.

Trinity was chosen as the bathroom remodeling contractor and we essentially gutted the entire space and installed:

• A new bathtub


• Shower fixtures


• Vanity


• Granite counter


• Electrical & plumbing


• Bath fan


• Window & paint


• Custom ceramic tile

The photo you see here is just one picture, of the sink/vanity area. You can see all the photos in their entirety in our Photo Gallery section.

What do you think of this new bathroom? Leave us a comment!

Source: http://www.trinityhomerenovations.com