Blog: Bathroom Remodeling

​How to Choose a Contractor for Your Bathroom Remodel

With so many contractors out there all claiming to be the best at remodeling, it’s easy to part ways with your cash and not get the dream bathroom you’ve been saving for. Thus, it’s important you do the necessary research so you’re not fooled by one of the many “cowboy builders” out there. If you’re currently on the lookout for a contractor to come in and take away your old bathroom and replace it with a completely new one, have a look at some of the best tips below to ensure you get the best.

Never Pay 100% of the Service Upfront
Before you begin searching for a top contractor, it’s crucial you cover yourself and abide by a few rules. This is pretty self-explanatory, but it’s still overlooked by many homeowners. Just because they get a quote from their local contractor doesn’t mean they have to pay for it all at once. Sometimes, contractors will ask you for the full lot before they begin working, but it shouldn’t be considered at all. Contractors often lose that incentive to do a good job (or even start it) if they have the money in their pocket before they begin. A deposit will usually suffice with the rest of the payment to follow once the work is completed. Contractors will often use the deposit to pay for the necessary materials to undertake the job. It’s up to you to come to some agreement that suits both parties.

Compile a List of Contractors
You shouldn’t partner with the contractor you’ve first spoken to – you should always compile a list of contractors and compare them with each other. You may get a bathroom remodel slightly cheaper elsewhere for the same quality, or you may find a contractor that has decades of experience in bathroom remodeling and they aren’t much more expensive than someone who’s been in the trade for a couple of years. Compiling a list of contractors will only work in your favor, so you can find the best contractor in your area.

Contractor References
If a contractor is as good as they say they are then they should have already completed numerous projects for previous clients. They should not only have a portfolio filled with the latest pictures of the jobs they’ve undertaken – but they should also have multiple contacts that you can obtain references from. Once you have compiled a list of contractors you’re interested in, dive deeper into their references, so you can learn first-hand how they’ve dealt with their customers, not only in terms of service but also the quality of work. You can find out more about pricing and references from these useful tips.

A Good Website & Portfolio
Those contractors who take pride in their work and are serious about landing new clients will have a website with a good portfolio. These contractors are the ones you want to base your decision on. If you can easily navigate their website, find numerous references there and then, and have access to a huge portfolio of work that they’ve compiled over the last decade – you are already close to hiring the contractor who can remodel your bathroom to a high standard.

Ask Your Friends & Family
This should be your first point of call when looking for a contractor – friends and family always know a good contractor. Word of mouth is the most powerful tool when it comes to landing new clients, so speaking with friends and family to see if they know anyone is a very good starting point. You could even land yourself a better deal in terms of material prices simply because your friend is a friend of the contractor. It makes for good business for everyone and it instantly creates a trusting relationship for both parties. Of course, you should still do your own research and stick to only paying a deposit up front, but you’ll find that working with a contractor that your family and/or friends know will work in your favor.

It Pays to Wait
The best contractors out there will be busy throughout the year. The not so good ones will be able to come in and start ripping out your bathroom the next day. They usually don’t have any work for good reason, so it does sometimes pay to wait for a few months until a top contractor can fit you in. Of course, some contractors are unlucky and their jobs do get canceled from time to time, but you’ll quickly be able to work out those contractors from the ones who do not have any work for most of the year round. These contractors are usually quite edgy and persistent in wanting to hurry up and get the job started. While there’s nothing wrong with being motivated, it does sometimes make you wonder why they want to hurry up and get the job completed.

Online Reviews
Another good point of call would be to rely on online reviews to assist you in your search for a top contractor. While a lot of contractors work independently and for their local communities, you’ll still find a lot of information about their business online. Simply using Google and sites like Trust Pilot will give you a better idea of how well they’ve dealt with previous clients. Using their business name online to research their company in more detail will also shed some light on what they’re all about. Social media platforms could also prove resourceful if they have their own pages.

Finding a contractor for your bathroom remodel doesn’t have to be too difficult. So long as you do the above necessary research and you have a bit of common sense when dealing with contractors – not a great deal can go wrong. Don’t always base your decision on the quote you get – the cheaper ones aren’t always the best and the more expensive ones don’t always provide the best standard of work. Looking at previous works and contacting references is the best way to confirm they are as good as they say they are.