Can you get your bathtub/shower remodeled in a day?

Can you get your bathtub/shower remodeled in a day?

So… you need to do something about your bathtub or shower before you fall through the floor... Nothing says get it done like water damage, holes in your floor, tile coming loose, mold, chips, and possibly even rust! You have so many questions that come to mind. Or even worse, maybe you don’t have any questions come to mind! Why would you? You’ve never done this before. 

Contrary to popular belief, not everyone has a bathroom like the one pictured above. In fact, most people do not. Statistically, the most consistent bathroom size is around 5’x8’. Not at all what you see above. More like the picture below. 

Can you get your bathtub or shower remodeled in a day? Probably not. Some companies indicate this is possible. While it happens sometimes, it’s not consistent. Why? In most cases, permits need to be pulled and inspections must be conducted, which, prevent same day project completions from happening. Small companies might try to fly under the radar. Red flag? Maybe. I've run into clients who don't want permits pulled. Sometimes home owners have done work on their homes that they don't want the local inspections departments to know about. Complications slow things down. 

Good companies will indicate the potential for unseen issues arising before hand. Other companies might not bring this up. You have to be careful not to hear only the things you want to hear and look for possible red flags. I’ve seen it time and time again. Ironically, good companies/construction professionals will complicate the project upfront during discussions, so it’s not complicated later when the project is happening. This is actually in your favor, not theirs; to know about the problems upfront. True professional should be about solving your problems. If they keep it too simple it might be that all they want is a deposit. Not to suggest there aren’t times when things are simple, but if there are complications, you want to know up front. You’ll know when to apply this. For instance, sometimes the remodel project is only about a color change. No damage or concerns to worry about. Just out dated. 

Are you looking to get your bathroom remodeled? Some people procrastinate. Investing in your home can be scary. It costs money. However, if you wait, plumbing problems get worse and water damage accumulates. Then, cost shoots up. Home ownership is a list of projects. That doesn’t stop. The value of your home requires that you take care of it in a timely fashion. If you do so when it’s needed, rather than wait, it will ironically cost you less, no matter how expensive you think it is now. Are you looking to get information on your bathroom or kitchen? 

So, whether you’re looking to have a simple 5x8 bathroom remodeled, or your dream bathroom, you’re gonna have questions. It’s common for most people to have one primary question, and that question is how much? What is the price? It’s natural to ask this question first. However, there are more important questions that should be considered first. I will discuss price, however, I will outline critical considerations first, as they will have significant importance to getting your project done correctly so it will last. Did you know that 50% of start-up construction companies fail in the first year? Roughly 96% of construction companies fail within 3 to 5 years. Residential remodeling construction is quite a problem. Some companies even change their name periodically to indemnify themselves from liability. 

So… what should you consider first, when contemplating a remodeling project?

To keep it simple I’ve compiled a bullet point list: 

• Licensed
• Insured
• Company pulls permits, not you.  
• Company schedules inspections
• Credibility
• How long in business (96% of Construction companies fail in 3 to 5 years.)
• References
• Knowledgeable
• Patient and descriptive verbally and written. 
• Uses proper professional construction methodologies. 
• Continuous learning
• Follows through
• Doesn’t try to sell you something you don’t need. Unless you want it of course. ;)
• Meeting with the representative to gauge it all. 
• Emotional IQ
• Finally, price. (Don’t buy on price alone, see list above) ;)