Posted on 01/19/2022 9:15:23 AM PST by MAGA2017
“Don’t do it. Keep the cash for your own upgrade. Un-necessary in this market.”
Totally agree. We just sold our home for $200k over the market price of just last summer.
“It’s so much easier to sell a house with nice bathrooms (and a nice kitchen).”
Yesterday that was true. Today, everything is selling fast.
“Be sure the bathroom meets ADA specs, or you’ll be sued by some gimp you’ve never seen and his shyster lawyer.”
If that were true then no one would be selling anything.
You should buy the materials. If the contractor does not pay the supplier they can come after you for payment.
Also when the job is done get a lien release signed from the contractor. There are examples online.
I have sold a few homes. Having a nice bathroom and kitchen sells the home...especially of recently remodeled. New buyers do not want to go through the hassle also unless they are diy
What is wrong with the tub?
Is it a cast iron porcelin tub OR a fiberglass tub?
IF it is cast iron, you can have the tub repainted. It is cheaper and better than replacing the tub & shower unit.
I would replace the toilet. Paint the bathroom. Maybe replace the faucet, towel bars & toilet paper holder to match. Chrome NEVER goes out of style.
The best thing is to get a recommendation for a contractor from someone you know, if possible.
The contractor figures in the cost of materials and takes a cut from that. If you provide materials he will charge you more for the labor.
Hand over pictures of your bathroom remodel to prospective buyers with an agreement to take the cost of fixing up the bathroom off the price of the home. (an agreed price before the contract is signed) That way THEY can get the tile colors and upgrades they would like to have...and you pay the base amount.
You can have the job bid on a time and materials basis or a project basis. Either way, if the contractor/handyman purchases ANYTHING expect a 10-15% (sometimes more) surcharge for the time and effort to make the purchase. If YOU buy the items you need and have them all sitting there waiting for the labor install you can save that. Also make sure you have ALL the parts your installer will need including things like Teflon Plumbers Tape, Putty, etc. Often times you will see an invoice line item for “Supplies” and this is usually calculated as a percentage of the overall project cost. Kind of like the “Oil Disposal” fee at an oil change. Even though the oil change company resells the used oil to be filtered and resold. Whole lotta selling goin on hea!
This. I'm in the trades, and everyone [good] is backed up for months.
There are a lot of good posts upthread.
When I re-did my bathroom, I crafted it specifically for The Queen.
A house purchaser will likely have different ideas about redoing your [I presume] main bathroom. Unless you're a really good interior renovation designer, let it be.
The part about pre-buying the items is as ClearCase_guy wrote - they may not work.
See my comment about "really good interior renovation designer".
Do the rip out and haul away yourself. It’s actually fun if you are the naturally destructive type.
If you have him buy anything, expect that they will add markup.
I’m on the side of “sell it as is” and reflect tgat in the price or negotiate it in the sale.
Good ideas ... fix up up to look nice and let the new buyers decide on tub or shower or color or tile...
My father got ripped off years ago by buying the materials and then paying the contractor for labor. The project dragged on way too long and went over budget.
Unless it’s someone you can personally trust my preference would be to get bids that cover the whole project.
“When my wife and I sold our house about 10 years ago we spent money to upgrade both bathrooms. IMHO, it helped a lot to get a better price that more than covered the cost of the upgrades”
Agreed 100%. We sold our house 5 years ago and put in all new tile in the kitchen and bathrooms, new kitchen countertop, new vanities and commodes etc.
It sold the home. The buyers said the new remodeled kitchen and baths is what they liked best. Our house sold 8 hours after signing the real estate contract.
Yes, they are franchised. Our bathroom was really outdated. Had a blue tub, no shower. Old tile floor, old cabinet and sink.
They took out the tub, put in walkin shower, new flooring, new vanity and halfwall of waterproof material.
No tile but they have a proprietary material they use for the shower and walls. Doesn’t look bad and it’s now functional. $15K
I did a smaller bath myself, gutted it, walk in shower, new lights, fan exhaust out to roof, toilet...the whole nine yards and I’ll best it cost me 10K and and took me over a year.
I’ve heard horror stories about contractors...big reason I did one myself and rebath was true to their word.
We actually had them do a tub surround in our 3rd bath...one day.
That is why you always sell “as is”. Take a few bucks less if needed but always sell “as is”.
That’s how I learneed to change windows.
Whichever way you go make sure to pull the construction permit and get the final inspection. A lawyer or two will review home inspections and so will the town. Depends where you are if even a water heater was changed without a permit the town fines you. Seen/heard it too many times in the hvac trade so many years.
...or, if something fails after the installation, the contractor can claim you supplied inferior products.
Better to let the contractor do all the materials procurement and installation. Single source is best.
Depending on your relationship and agreement with the contractor; I’ve done it both ways.
I did the same project you’re contemplating. He bought the tile and grout, but I approved it, same with the vanity - it’s ok to be picky, but be reasonable. On the other hand, I wanted a particular light fixture and I bought that directly and he installed it.
Contractors typically get it less than retail of course, and I’ve always felt it was a fair trade for their trouble of getting it. If we agreed on a price and then I start trying to undercut him on supplies or adding on additional tasks, to me it’s only fair he be compensated. One part of the job you might want to ask about is cleanup. If you want to be responsible for or can use the old stuff instead of him hauling it off, it might save you both a buck.
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