1. SET A BUDGET

Prior to starting my bathroom renovation, I set a budget and then deducted 10% to cover unforeseen expenses. However, if I had to do it all over again I would have deducted 15%-20% because unforeseen issues and forgotten items can add up fast.

2. ESTIMATES AND RESEARCH

Once I came up with a budget I started getting estimates from different vendors and researching the cost of products, which I quickly realized I forgot to budget for items like paint and accessories and completely underestimated the cost of demolition and plumbing. *Tip: Do extensive research on all vendors and products.

3. DON’T BE CHEAP

There are definitely some areas where you can save money and buy less expensive items, but there are a few items I don’t recommend skimping on, like tile, bathtub(s), and even cabinetry. Unlike lighting, faucets, and countertops, which can easily be replaced, tile and bathtubs cannot.

4. BE ORGANIZED

A must when renovating your bathroom is being organized. I created a spreadsheet to keep track of all of my expenses and set up a separate e-mail folder so I could keep all of my e-mails pertaining to my bathroom renovation together. This should go without saying, but keep ALL of your receipts and shipping invoices, Also, when purchasing items online I highly recommend setting up an account instead of checking out as a “guest,” this way you can easily track all transactions. *Tip: Write down your username and passwords for all accounts.

5. EXTENDED TIMELINE

Have a timeline and double it! Alright, doubling it may be unrealistic, but keep in mind problems that are out of everyone’s control may come up and if you’re on a tight schedule thing will most likely be delayed. I was prepared for delays, which a few did come up, but since I had such a long timeline my bathroom renovation was actually completed sooner than anticipated.

6. DON’T WAIT

I was renovating multiple bathrooms and didn’t want materials piled up in my home when they weren’t going to be used right away, so I planned on ordering some items as needed, like toilets. This was a BIG mistake because my bathroom renovation was running ahead of schedule and could have been delayed because I didn’t have the product, but thankfully all of the items I needed were in-stock, shipped immediately, and received prior to creating a potential delay.

7. CLEANING

It is next to impossible to keep your home clean during a bathroom renovation. Weeks later I’m still dusting more than normal, but I know it’s not as bad as it could be because during my bathroom renovation I was constantly vacuuming, dusting and changing my AC filters. Once your bathroom renovation is complete, I highly recommend hiring a professional cleaning company to clean your house from top to bottom.