Providing a contractor with the right information upfront is essential for receiving an accurate and comprehensive estimate for your remodeling project. Specify which rooms or areas you want to remodel and describe the desired changes. A detailed project scope helps the contractor understand the full extent of the work. Here’s a brief guide on what details you should prepare for a bathroom remodel including a new vanity.
Budget First and foremost, communicate your budget range. Although most homeowners like to keep this information to themselves at first, it is important to have a general ballpark before wasting your time on something that isn’t feasible. Having a budget helps the contractor propose materials and solutions that align with your financial expectations and avoid suggestions that are outside your budget.
I highly suggest researching materials before involving a contractor. You need to have a budget for materials and labor; some contractors provide both while others will estimate labor only and require homeowners to provide the finish materials. Many contractors will provide an allowance for finish materials in their contract especially because they often receive discounted pricing from their vendors. Their labor estimate should provide Sq Ft so you know how much material will be installed. If you already know that the tile you want for the shower is $8.99 Sq Ft and their allowance is only $500 for 100 Sq Ft, you can expect a change order. Also, if you’ve already done your homework and received an estimate on the tile for $5.99 and they try to tell you it’s $6.99, you know they are trying to make a profit. If they are purchasing, picking up and inspecting the material then they should be compensated for their time to do so but if they make you responsible for having the materials ready at the jobsite then they should not be making money off the tile.
Design Preferences: Share your design preferences and inspirations. Especially if you are not hiring an Interior Designer and if the Contractor doesn’t have one on staff, be sure to provide examples through photos, magazine clippings, or links to images. This gives the contractor a clear vision of your style, preferred color schemes, and the overall aesthetic you aim to achieve. Don’t leave it up to the Contractor to make decisions for you.
Here are some questions I would ask knowing you plan to change the vanity:
What kind of vanity? Stock, Pre Fab, Semi Custom or Custom? Are you purchasing one that already comes with the countertop and sink? Or will it be semi-custom, you buy the cabinet and sink and they fabricate the countertop.
Maybe you want it completely custom because of the layout of the bathroom or you cannot find what you want already made. Let’s say you decide you want a custom vanity. The next questions will be:
Construction Type: Frameless, Framed, Inset? Finish: Stained or Painted? Size: 21” or 24”D? 31” or 34-1/2”H? Total width? Sink Type: Undermount, Top Mount, Integrated, Vessel? Countertop Type: Quartz, Marble, Porcelain? Edge Profile: Straight, Ogee, Bullnose?
All these options are crucial to know so the contractor can bid properly, each option has a different price point.
Every selection matters because it changes the price. A contractor will not typically ask you all these questions because they are not a designer. They love to provide the lowest bid and get you with change orders once they’ve already been hired. They will bid out the cheapest stock vanity possible so their bid is low to entice you to hire them. It is always a good idea to get multiple bids but you need to be able to compare them properly. Just because one guy comes in significantly higher doesn’t mean he won’t actually be the cheapest in the end. If one bids a custom built vanity and the other bids out installation only of a pre-fab vanity that you supply, obviously the custom guy is going to be much higher. You need to make sure the estimates include the same labor and materials so you have an apples to apples comparison.
Timeline: Share your desired timeline for the project. If you have a specific deadline, such as a major event or a move-in date, let the contractor know so they can plan accordingly and set realistic expectations for project completion. Keep in mind, HGTV does all homeowners a disservice. You cannot completely remodel your bathroom in a weekend. There are inspections that need to be performed and wait times for water testing, dry time, etc.
Access and Restrictions: Inform the contractor about access to your home and any restrictions. This includes working hours, parking availability, and any homeowner association rules that might affect the project. If you only want workers in your home 3 days a week or only for limited hours each day, your timeline and budget could be affected.
Providing detailed and accurate information helps contractors create precise estimates and ensures a smoother remodeling process. By preparing and sharing this information upfront, you pave the way for a successful collaboration and a beautifully executed project.
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