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The time has come for you to remodel your bathroom, but you really want to leave all of the work to a professional, rather than having to install it all yourself. You have several ideas of what you want your bathroom to look like, but want to go to a decorator/bathroom remodeler who has a portfolio of their work available. What should you look for in an “exceptional” bathroom renovation portfolio?

Premium Product Review:
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Quality of Service in a Bathroom Remodeling Portfolio

Something that you need to remember is that a well-ordered bathroom remodel portfolio is a sign of professionalism. A remodeler with a well-organized portfolio shows his/her commitment to a professional job and presentation. You are more likely to discover a well-organized portfolio displayed by a planner who charges a modest fee – not the cheapest. Indeed, how much you pay for remodeling is usually indicative of the work.

So, what things should you look for when it comes to a professional bathroom renovation portfolio? Clear before and after pictures of completed projects should be provided. Pictures should show the detail given to the project, as well as the general attributes. Watch out for blurry and one-angle-only pictures.

Bathroom remodeling portfolio pictures will also be accompanied by reference from the people whose pictures are displayed. Look for a full name disclosure on the reference. Don’t just take the provided reference at face value; if the reference also includes contact information, take the liberty of contacting that client to corroborate the reference provided.

With so many bathroom remodeling services out there, how do you choose? At sometime you must have noticed someone else’s bathroom that impressed you – find out who completed the decorating job. Word of mouth is something else that can be really helpful. With good references in your pocket, start your search.

Many home renovators look to the internet to do their research. You may find pictures of various finished remodeling projects as you navigate from page-to-page. It might take some time to find the one that fits all of your bathroom remodeling needs, but you are sure to find the right contractor with the proper research.

By Chet Lystrom

Have you ever dreamed of remaking your existing bathroom into a newer, more modern bathroom?  There are a variety of ways to breathe new life into your bathroom from rearranging the room to installing new components.   When you first start planning to remodel your bathroom, consider your budget, available space, and what you would like as the center piece of the bathroom.  Whether you’re adding on to it, or keeping the current space, you’ll want to take all your measurements and have them checked with local contractors to see how much money you’re looking at.    Then, once your bathroom planning is complete, you can get to work on your remodeling project to create the bathroom of your dreams.

Should you Expand the Bathroom?

When bathroom planning, one of the first things you’ll want to decide is how much space you need to do what you want. If you want to install larger bath and shower components, or separate shower and tub components, you may need more room.  You can do this by knocking out a wall or doing whatever you have to do.   Be sure to figure in the expansion when you’re getting bids and planning your budget.   When figuring out your space, you’re also going to want to know if you have the room to add on.   If your bathroom is on the outside edge of the house, you should be able to expand into the yard.  However, if you only have a little bit of space to work with, this can seriously hinder your bathroom planning progress.

What to Put in the Bathroom

Now that you know what kind of space you have to work with, you’re going to want to fill it with the various components, such as sinks, toilets, tubs, showers, and whatever else you want to put in there.   At this point, you can also determine the style you want to go with.   Once you choose a style, stick with it.   Keep everything looking clean and professional by sticking with one look.  Let your new bathroom really express who you are, that way you’ll have fun putting it together.  You’ll feel a real sense of accomplishment when you look at your newly remodeled bathroom and know that you planned it from start to finish.

Product Review:
For those of you whose taste go further than IKEA and know what real craftsmanship means we have some product recommendations on our site that you might like. This week we feature the Fairmont Design Collage Vanity. Read our review of this piece of art and see if it might be right for your home.

When you are looking to hire a professional to do a home remodeling project, it is important to get an estimate of the materials and labor.  When getting a bathroom remodeling estimate take the time to go over it with the contractor to be sure of exactly what is included in the price.   Most estimates will include a cushion just in case unknown repairs come up, but it should also specify how much cost adjustment is allowed and that all changes must be approved by the homeowners.

Most contractors are honest people, depending on positive references from previous customers to obtain more work.   They will generally offer an accurate bathroom remodeling estimate for the job, knowing that if they continue to charge more than the job was estimated, their future will be limited.   You also don’t want to get caught in the trap of low bathroom remodeling estimates that continue to go up and up as the project is completed.

Making small adjustments as a contractor completes a project is normal and should be expected.   However, make sure that amount applies to the total cost of the job and not on individual phases.   Making adjustments on each piece of the remodeling project can considerably increase the cost of the project.

All Contract Specifications Should Be Exact

The contractor should include all materials expected to be used for your bathroom remodeling project in the estimate.  The materials list should not just be a general list.  It should include product dimensions and styles.  Being as specific as you can ensures that you will get the bathroom that you are picturing.  If you choose to change the materials, or material quality used during installation, the originally estimated cost will go up.”

The specific brand and model of any fixtures should also be included in any bathroom remodeling estimate to insure only top quality items are used.   It may not be necessary to specify the source for the items, but if there is reason to believe the contractor will buy factory seconds or used merchandise, you want to get another contractor instead of a bathroom remodeling estimate.   It will take time to go through the paperwork before awarding the contract, but it will insure that you get what you pay for and in a timely manner.

Product Review:
We have been in the bathroom remodeling business for over 30 years and in that time have come to know good quality bathroom furniture and fixtures. Without fail our clients are consistently happy when we recommend and install a Cole & Company Premier Collection Medium Provence Vanity or a similar product from that line. We can’t recommend them enough!

If you wish to have a spa like bathroom, go ahead and indulge yourself with the facilities and comforts that spa style bathroom offers. Before you begin though, be very clear that this could be an expensive venture. If you are keen and willing to take a loan, then visit your bank and enquire about it. Take your time and interview the available contractors in you area to find out which one fits your requirements. Some contractors have different payment plans, so make sure you check them too before starting on a spa style bathroom remodeling. While this will increase the value of your home it still needs to be financially manageable. A spa style bathroom provides you a good relaxation right at home.

What to Check Before You Start the Bathroom Remodel

Check with your contractor if you need to add more space for your spa style bathroom remodeling. You can get started implementing your plan if the changes you want to make can be done it the space of the current bathroom. If you are planning to increase space by breaking a wall, you better get a permit to avoid hassles. Check with your city government to find out what this entails. Believe it or not, not have the proper permit can cause you lots of trouble down the road. Also, you can concentrate on your spa bathrooms without any hindrances.

Funding
There are various methods to accommodate your spa style bathroom remodeling. Getting money from the bank for a redesign like this shouldn’t be a problem assuming you have good credit. You can try mortgage or reverse mortgage of your home. A lot of times contractors are more than happy to assist you with a payment plan. Check out all your options and be prepared before starting your spa style bathroom remodeling.

Planning
Planning is the most important part of the spa style bathroom remodeling project. You must first decide on how you want your bathroom to be. Take tips from magazines or remodeling books. You can also search the internet to get the latest trends and models. Check out with your friends if they have a spa style bathroom and know the facts which will not only help remodel your bathroom, but also in planning additional costs involved in maintenance. The success of your spa style bathroom remodeling project hinges on taking your time during the research and planning phase.

Bathroom Remodeling Idea – The Fairmont Designs Vanity Collage Collection is one of our favorite lines of bathroom vanities. We continually recommend this series of products and our clients are never dissappointed.

By: Chet Lystrom