Three Questions to Consider for a Cheap Bathroom Remodel

Guest post by FatWallet

When considering a bathroom remodel on a budget, cut costs by asking yourself three questions:

1. What can I buy cheaper?
2. Who’s the best man for each job?
3. How much time do we have?

What can I buy cheaper?
The first contractor bidding our bathroom remodel quoted with allowances for variables, like vanity, tile, fixtures. I’m then expected to shop his preferred vendor; and if the freestanding vanity or subway tile I like isn’t within the allowance, I’m exceeding my budget. Many contractors favor this method because they receive a contractor’s discount and mark the product back up to retail. Not happening.

Buying and finding deals on bathroom fixtures takes planning and space: planning to buy colors and finishes within a cohesive style and scheme; space to stockpile…well…basically, a bathroom. Watch local tile retailers for sales, and watch online for Home Depot, Lowes or Overstock coupon codes to apply to low-cost sinks, mirrors and vanities. We scored an unbelievable deal on one of the most expensive fixtures, a frameless shower door, by simply asking the local glass shop if they had any mistakes or scratch and dents.

Who’s the best man for each job?
Here’s where you have to be brutally honest with yourself, and your contractor has to be extremely flexible. Are there pieces of this remodel that you can confidently tackle on your own? Is the contractor’s preferred plumber the best value?

Our contractor provided an itemized bid, and we cut costs by eliminating line items within our skill set. $200 here and there for demo, paint or trim work adds up to the difference between laminate or granite countertops. Keep in mind the piece of mind associated with knowing a licensed professional is routing electrical or sewage. If you want to act as general on this job, procuring bids and hiring individual plumbers and electricians, be prepared with a solid set of plans. Simply pointing to an area where you want the stool will lead to miscommunications and backtracking – or added costs and time.

How much time do we have?
Waiting for sales, locating orphaned shower doors, delays between contractors, all equal time. We’ve been collecting bathroom fixtures in our garage for over a year and haven’t even scheduled a contractor. And our schedule may not jive with his. If we demo over a free weekend, he may start Monday or a week from Monday.

For two to three times our $5,000 budget, I could be soaking in a new steam shower instead of tearing out the old one with a sledgehammer. Our time and stress definitely has a price. However, our planning, elbow grease, and flexible contractor (or two) mean more cash sooner for the next project: remodeling our 1970s burnt orange and harvest gold kitchen…

Laura is a marketer, mom, and accomplished equestrian – not necessarily in that order. I’ve been at Fatwallet as lpickles since 2004 and a mom since 2006. My job at FatWallet keeps me close (sometimes too close) to the web’s best deals and bargain hunting insights.

My biggest battle when prioritizing work, family, interests, and maintaining my own identity, is remembering to slow down and stay frugal. Watch my posts for the tips and shortcuts I’m finding for managing a healthy and fun lifestyle, while keeping my spending -and affliction for footwear – in check.