This week Tried & True Services completed a double bathroom remodel in Naperville, IL. We were approached by our customers a few months ago wanting to remodel their master and hall bathrooms. As we discussed the details of the project it was decided that we tackle bathrooms at the same time. The customer had an additional full bath in their basement as well as a powder room on the first floor, so they would not be without during the process. It also helped that they would be on vacation for the first week.

This brings up a great topic when deciding on how to schedule your next remodeling project. How to operate my household around the space being renovated?

Some things to remember when remodeling your kitchen, bathroom or just having some rooms painted:

1) Where will you put all the furniture from the project space? Do you need a storage pod?

2) What items do you need to have access to during the project?

3) Can you live in the home during the renovation?

4) Do you or your family members have allergies? If so, it's a good idea to have an air filtration system running in the room that they will be sleeping in.

5) If you are staying in your house during the project, are you or any of your family sensitive to chemicals? Off gassing is a major concern during, however if your contractor is using Low or No VOC products then the risks are minimal.

Just remember that it is hard to plan for every scenario, but taking a few moments to consider how the project will effect your everyday life will dramatically decrease the stress of the project. It will also prepare you and your family for what is to come and how life might be during your next home improvement project.

The Most BANG for your BUCK$

Today I had a surprise invite to a potential clients home to look over a few projects. One project was a Master Bath Remodeling project. They have a very nice size master bedroom and as well as master bath. The house is 20 years old and the bath has never been updated. Their kitchen was remodeled a few years ago and most recently a nice facelift on the second floor guest bath.

As we discussed options and I learned more about their plans for the future, which included selling in a year or two, I realized they needed to keep a few things in mind when choosing how to progress with this remodel. One would be that they may not get everything that they want, because they need to consider what would appeal to a broad spectrum of prospective buyers. Second they would need to consider the best return on their investment. Why spend $15-$30K on a bathroom they only be able to enjoy for less than two years.

They were okay with the thought of sacrificing their wish list for what would appeal to a prospective buyer, however they were very surprised that the ROI (Return On Investment), was so low on bathroom remodels, which is on average around 65%. But with careful planning and deliberate choices we could help increase that number closer to 80-90%. We will discuss great ways to save time and money on your remodel and ones that will help get you the largest ROI.

1) What can you save and what needs to go? It is important to identify what will work with your new look and what needs to go. Do you need to replace the tile or will re-grouting do the trick? New cabinets or refacing. Ceramic versus Natural stone? There are so many nice looking ceramic tiles that look and feel similar to natural stone. Upon a close inspection it is easy to spot, but for an over all feel, they are a great way to add an updated look with out the price tag!

2) Will your contractor allow you to purchase the tile, cabinets and other fixtures direct? Contractors are hungry for work, and some will allow you to purchase your own materials. But make sure you understand that: a) They will not warranty the product and may have a limited warranty on their labor. b) You are responsible for making sure the items are on site when the contractor needs them. Any delays could cost you extra. c) The contractor is not making any money off of the materials you purchase so any unforeseen obstacles and or changes to the project rest solely on your shoulders.

3) Is there anything that you can do to help reduce the cost? There are a few areas in which you could do the work. One of those areas is the initial demo. I would not suggest that you do this unsupervised, but tearing out tile and drywall, pulling the sinks and cabinets could save you hundreds to thousands of dollars. You could also rent the dumpster and or haul the debris to the dump yourself. Most standards pickup trucks will hold 1000lbs of debris, which will cost any where from $50-$100 to dispose of.


4) Discounts, overstock and going out of business sales. Keep your eyes open for great deals. Planning is key to taking advantage of huge savings. If you know what you want, you will know what to look for when sales cross your path.