A new home holds the same appeal as a blank canvas: it just screams opportunity. Well-meaning homeowners often dive right into remodels and renovations because they want to add their own personal touch to their new home.
However, if you run a quick Google search for bathroom remodel near me, you’ll find there are just as many cautionary tales as there are bathroom remodeling services, ideas, and contractors. A bathroom remodel is a big deal, and forcing yourself to get one when it’s impractical can lead to some intense consequences.
Here are our personal recommendations on the best time and ideal circumstances to invest in a bathroom remodel.
Contents
MOTIVATION
Homeowners remodel their bathrooms for different reasons. Some people do it because they want to sell the house. Others do it because it’s outdated, or non-functional. Although everyone has their own unique situations and opinions about what constitutes a “good” reason, your motivation for a bathroom remodel should be paramount.
Always look at your reason for renovating.
Remodel It!
Are you planning to sell your house soon? Is the bathroom old and outdated? Are half the appliances and furniture in it are no longer working? If your answer is a yes, then you should definitely consider investing in a bathroom remodel.
Leave it Alone!
Believe it or not, some homeowners are capable of investing in dozens of home improvement projects at a time. Half of them may be unnecessary, but they do it anyway. Why? They have ample time and resources. Others simply want to remodel for a change and keep up with the trends like it’s a religion, and they need to be as contemporary and up-to-date as possible.
If you’re not looking to sell your home, your bathroom is fresh and new (two years old at most), and everything is working fine, then your energies may be better directed to other rooms.
FUNDS
If you search the phrase, bathroom remodel near me, you’ll no doubt get a ton of results. There’s a whole community of home improvement veterans who are fully supportive of homeowners wanting to spruce up their bathroom.
But suddenly deciding to remodel your bathroom isn’t the same as an impulse buy or a last-minute purchase. It’s a fairly large home improvement project that can be costly. Based on what you want out of your bathroom remodel, you could spend upwards of $5,000. Home Advisor puts the national average of a bathroom remodels at $10,451 for 2019.
Depending on where you live, it could be lower or much, much higher.
Remodel It!
If you’re 100% sure you want to push through with the remodel and you’ve got sufficient finances to cover the project, go for it! Alternatively, if you can apply for home improvement grants or remodeling incentives to help fund your bathroom remodel (and you’re confident you’ll be approved), then push through.
Related Content: 5 Factors Which Affect the Cost of a Bathroom Remodel
Leave it Alone!
If you feel like a full-scale bathroom remodel might push your financial plan to its limit, don’t force it. Instead, try renovating your bathroom over time. Do little, small-scale improvements when it’s convenient to do so. For instance, if you have your bathroom retiled now, you can always install that new shower enclosure six or eight months later.
PRACTICAL REASONS
Consider the scale of the bathroom remodel you want concerning your home’s current state. Is this the only bathroom in the home? How many people are using it? Where is it located? Is it a full bath? Half bath? As much as we wish it were otherwise, a bathroom remodel will affect your daily routine. This means that you’ll have to carefully plan how to deal with the minor inconveniences that come with the remodel, should you push through.
Remodel It!
If the bathroom you’re planning to remodel checks any of the following, feel free to push through with the remodel:
- there are multiple bathrooms in the house
- easily accessible (i.e., not in the masters bathroom)
- is the only bathroom in the house, but only one or two people use it
- not easily accessible, but is not the only bathroom in the house
- not easily accessible, but only one or two people use it
Consider not using that bathroom for a month. Can you survive, and how inconvenienced would you be? If the answer is yes, and not that much—in that order—then a bathroom remodel should be just fine.
Leave it Alone!
If the bathroom you plan to remodel does not check any of the bullet points above, you might want to reconsider. However, if you aim to push through regardless, you’ll need to secure alternative bathroom options while waiting—especially if that bathroom is the only one in the house. A friend, a close neighbor, or a public service facility (like a gym or a hotel) are some viable examples.
There’s no denying that a bathroom remodel is a sound investment. Any Google search for bathroom remodel near me or bathroom remodeling ideas will yield thousands of results—99% of which are absolutely positive. However, some caution is always recommended approaching home improvement projects. In this industry, mistakes and regret can be quite expensive.
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