Bathroom Remodels – What You Need To Know & How To Stay Sane During The Process

Remodeling can be an expensive and tough process to go through. There is a lot to get organized and a lot to get done. From tiling the walls to fitting the toilet, from color schemes to shower curtains, there is so much you have to take on board and figure out.

But don’t worry! Here are some tips on how to organize yourself and some techniques to create a calmer experience for you and your family. We’ve also popped some information in here covering what to expect when going through the renovation process.

This will help you prepare for any mishaps that might occur during the remodel in order to make the process of getting your dream bathroom as easy as possible. It is important to make your experience as stress-free as possible and for you to be able to stay sane during the process of the remodel.

Be Prepared

Remodeling is an investment in your life. It doesn’t just cost you money, it also costs you time. Remodeling a bathroom can take weeks to finish and financial stress is not something you want on top of your already-tight schedule.

It is important to realize that before you decide on what it is you want for your new bathroom that you set a budget for yourself.

Being transparent about your budget with your contractor is important so they know the scope of the money situation, in case there are unexpected issues during construction. Be sure to also discuss your budget with your partner or spouse who may be involved with the renovation decisions.

Once you have a budget try not to deviate from it in order to avoid problems down the line. It's never pleasant to set up a budget and limiting yourself to a certain amount can be difficult at times but doing it will help you feel calm about your renovation project.

Get Organized

Being organized is an absolute must when it comes to a renovation of any kind. Here are some useful tips to help keep your renovation expenses as organized as possible;

Make notes of what you want for your bathroom and how much it is going to cost you.
Create a spreadsheet in order to keep track of all your expenses.
Set up a folder on your email to keep all renovation related emails together so they are easy to access when you need them.
Keep all your receipts and shipping invoices received together in a folder or file.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions before committing to any decisions regarding your bathroom remodel.
Remove all your personal belongings from the renovation site so they don’t get damaged during the build.

Communication Breakdown

Communication is key in all stressful situations but when remodeling a bathroom it is vital you communicate with your contractor and those around you to help prevent any miscommunication.

It doesn’t matter how organized you might be, sometimes things can just go wrong! A lot of unplanned problems can come from miscommunication. It may happen between you and your spouse or perhaps between you and the team working on your bathroom. It is important to give yourself a stress-free experience, so if miscommunication does occur try out some of these tips to straighten out the misunderstanding:

Focus on the solution to the problem and not the blame. A calm approach to the situation will allow the issue to be solved sooner.
It is important to be clear in what you say to avoid assumptions and mistakes being made.
If you are unsure if the contractor has understood your vision or request, then ask them to repeat it back to you.
Don’t panic, any mistakes that are made can be fixed calmly and stress-free.

Timeline Troubles

If you have a deadline that needs to be met it is important to discuss it with your contracting team before construction begins. Depending on the scale of the remodel the average bathroom renovation takes anywhere between 4 and 6 weeks to complete.

Be aware of any holidays you have or the contractor has booked and work around these dates to prevent any further delays on the remodeling of your bathroom.

It is important to remember that things do get delayed! This is the unfortunate reality of remodeling. There are often problems that pop up that are completely out of anybody’s control and these problems may throw your schedule off track.

Make Time for You

Remodeling is a time-consuming investment, make no mistake about it. You will make decisions and then second-guess them. You’ll have trouble deciding which color to paint the walls, what style of tile you should choose and whether all of this will fit into your schedule/budget. You will try to do all of this in your spare time and try to manage work and your day-to-day life.

It’s possible you may cry or scream at some point due to the amount of time you’re spending on looking after this project. Because of all this chaos, it is important to remember to look after yourself and take a breather once in a while.

Try to take a break from looking at your remodel. Do something that doesn’t involve the renovation. Allow yourself to just breathe. Get some air, take a walk or just leave the house to get some milk. When you partner with a professional remodeling contractor, your remodel is in safe hands.

At Home by NP, we try to keep our remodels as non-disruptive as we can, which will help you to go about your day-to-day life while we create a wonderful bathroom you will love.