Posted on 01/19/2022 9:15:23 AM PST by MAGA2017
IMO, it’s a seller’s market. You can get some bids and then take the lowest one and then cut it by at least 1/3 to 1/2 and then tell the agent that that you will pay that amount after closing to the buyer for the renovation. A sales promotion.
I bought all the items.
If you must get the bathroom redone you should check out the following website to find a reliable contractor:
NARI.org
This is the website for the National Association of the Remodling Industry.
“Don’t do it.”
I agree. You won’t get back the money you’ll put in, plus all the hassle.
And some people will pay extra for a fixer upper because they think they’re getting a bargain.
I think contractors would normally purchase the materials, and they also might get some type of builder’s discount... but...
I personally would probably sell it “as-is”, and let the next owner handle the upgrades.
JMHO
We have remodeled many homes over the past 35 years. When we were young we could do most of the work ourselves. Now we cannot, so we have stopped buying old houses to remodel and are in the process of building our first new home (using a well established builder).
It is a real problem finding small crews to work on a single job. Any decent crew can get multiple jobs, one after to other, with local builders. Consequently, your one job will be at the bottom of any crew’s list. You may be able to get the job done with one good carpenter, but good luck finding one.
I would consider selling it as is and offering the buyer a remodeling allowance after closing. Let the buyer decide what to remodel and who to do it
“...made the mistake (twice) of updating our home prior to sale and got nothing back for the trouble (actually lost a lot). The second time I took out a 2nd mortgage to cover the costs. I was a dumb kid.
Due to my work I really couldn’t buy a house until I was about 38 and then I bought my first one & when I sold it 9 years later.
I was talking to my sister about what I needed to prepare for the sale. She said. “why?” Broom clean, I had already kind of prepped the walls and I did caulk and the rest was just broom clean and it was clean one realtor came up to me and said “this is the cleanest house I have ever sold.”
There was nothing else done as far as upgrades or fresh paint it was “broom clean.”
But it does depend on the market, in a buyer’s market there might be a few extra things you need to do but in a seller’s market... broom clean and what people do in their new home is they change the colors around anyway so if you’re going to do any painting “Realtor White” is probably the only color you should use.
I recently had a new slider installed. I bought the item at Home Depot and paid the contractor $50 bucks extra to pick it up since I had no way to transport it home. Home Depot wanted $100 to deliver to the curb so I saved $50.
I agree that if possible, don’t spend the money. If the bathroom is unusable or may not pass inspection then it has to be done. I’m not sure how much more you can get for the house with the work done beforehand if it’s just cosmetic.
I’m in Vegas, houses are still going like crazy, with many selling within a couple of days of being listed. Houses that need work are still selling well so my experience may be different than people in other places.
The only problem with you buying the materials is how do you know how much to get?
Tile for instance. How much extra do you need to cover cuts, breakage etc? How many sheets of concrete backing? Do you need a Schluter niche? Did you get enough grout? Color matched caulk?
How long do your supply line tubes need to be? How much trim do you need? Did you get the right nails?
Did you get flooring but the wrong tile adhesive?
If you’re not really familiar with the process, you may be setting yourself up for grief and delays while you or your contractor makes many trips to the store.
I would second your point about cosmetic changes.
Sometimes pricing an “old” bathroom into the price will probably net you more cash than upgrading cosmetics that the new owner isn’t going to be thrilled with.
A friend who's an interior designer told me how to handle the job. She said go to the top award winning kitchen remodel store and I explain to the owner or top designer that I didn't have the money to buy their upscale cabinets, countertops, etc but I would like to pay them for a design. And asked what that would cost.
The woman said $200 an hour... (often designers are ripped off by people who want a design but never had an intention of using them - so she was impressed with my honesty).
I asked for a ballpark total - which I accepted... She not only gave me designs for the three kitchens - she gave me the exact sizes of all the fixtures, cabinets, moldings, sinks etc and blueprints for my handyman to follow. She also told me a discount place that sold solid wood cabinets for a discount price. The designs were amazing and transformed the looks of all three kitchens. Contractors for small jobs know how to install but they often just replace things where they were - when the room could be transformed...
1. I don’t know that a contractor will get you any bargains/deals on the basic items - tub, shower surround, toilet, faucets, towel bars, medicine cabinets and the like. Getting exactly what you want on those items is not difficult to do yourself.
2. Most contractors would agree that if all the items mentioned above are known, picked out and delivered to you before the remodel work commences there is less chance for mistakes regarding any measurements/fit of anything. And if you are involved in acquiring them you know exactly what their final costs are.
3. There are even some bathroom remodel contractors that will have you - with them or on your own - pick out what tiles for walls and/or floor you want at a tile vendor and get it bought and paid for by you and delivered to you before day one of the work. Believe me, I doubt the contractor is going to get you any great bargain on tiles by them buying them for you.
4. That leaves all labor and only a few materials (like drywall and/or cement board) to the contractor and you’ll know exactly what fixed cost you agreed to for that.
5. Leaving too many material items to be billed by the contractor opens the door to the bill being padded by the contractor’s own markup on those items.
6. With all the above taken care of, it is easier to get a sure fixed length of time to get the job done, and leaves few excuses for delays by the contractor.
New buyers want a “clean slate”. It needs to be “functional”.
Ten years ago you painted everything Navajo white , now its light grey. Brass faucets went out of style in the 1990s. Dark bronze will also go out of style. Chrome is still 2/3 of the market. A 1.6 gallon toilet cost $225-250 at Lowes or Home Depot.
Instead of asking a bunch of Freepers their 2 cents.
I would ask a REALTOR their opinion. They will tell you what the ROI will be.
I have redone all three bathrooms in my house. New Marble floors, granite vanity tops, new comfort height 1.6 gallon American Standard toilets, Regrout existing wall tiles. New lights. New Grohe faucets. New towel bars. Paint. New GFI outlets & covers. I did everything myself. It is easy. Watched YouTube videos on how to do the marble floor. $1100 was the most I spent on any of the three bathrooms.
On tile get 10% extra sq feet and you will be fine.
Prior to hiring anyone...
Take a look at their previous jobs...talk to previous customers.
I’ve never used them, but here in DFW they have something called “The Good Contractors List”, where they guarantee the work.
In this market, you can update and hope that provides more money, but I think now it is iffy if it makes much of a difference. High prices are being paid and I don’t think much higher can be had.
Sell it and let the new owner do the upgrade.
I sold a house last year that needed a roof and all new floors and interior painting.
I believe that just wasted money and stress on the kitchen with nice granite countertops.
The house went for double what it was in 2003.
Prices are determined by average sales in the neighborhood anyway.
Save your money for the new residence, my opinion for what it’s worth.
Do you like the Schluter stuff?
.
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