Kick Off your Bathroom Remodeling Project with a Bathroom Remodeling Budget Estimate
By Mark J. Donovan
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Establishing an upfront bathroom remodeling budget estimate is critical for understanding your total expected bathroom remodeling costs. Bathroom remodeling projects can be expensive, and there are a number of high priced features that you can include in them that can quickly blow your bathroom remodeling budget if you’re not careful. For example, installing a custom ceramic tiled shower can easily set you back a few thousand dollars when you consider all of the work involved in installing one.
The inclusion of a high quality double sink vanity with a granite countertop is another example of a very expensive bathroom remodeling feature. |
By generating a bathroom remodeling budget estimate first you can get a rough idea of the overall cost of your bathroom remodeling project and determine how you will finance it. A bathroom remodeling budget estimate also helps to set limits on the scope of the bathroom remodeling project, for example what features and materials you may want to include in it.
| Generating an upfront bathroom remodeling budget estimate should not be limited simply to a top level estimate. It should also include detailed cost estimates for each stage of the project, for example demolishing work, installation of new bathroom flooring, installation of new plumbing fixtures, etc.
Initially the costs for each stage of the bathroom remodeling project can be rough swags until you actually begin to receive quotes from bathroom remodeling contractors and bathroom fixture suppliers. |
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As you receive bathroom remodeling contractor bids and you get a better handle on expected material and labor costs you can refine your bathroom remodeling budget estimate.
| Bathroom remodeling budget estimating also helps to give you a more definitive idea of what you want to incorporate in your bathroom remodel, and helps to strengthen your negotiating skills when dealing with bathroom remodeling contractors. By establishing upfront a bathroom remodeling budget estimate for each stage of the project you can better evaluate the bathroom contractor bids and bathroom fixture supplier quotes. By comparing your bathroom remodeling budget estimates with contractor bids and bathroom fixture supplier quotes you can make more intelligent decisions on who to hire and what to include in your bathroom remodeling project. |  |
I have completed a number of bathroom remodeling projects where I have contracted out some of the work, and when generating my own bathroom remodeling budget estimates I have found it very useful to use a standard spreadsheet program. Using for example Microsoft’s Excel program, I have been able to create my own comprehensive bathroom remodeling cost spreadsheets.
| Each contained all of the major trades and materials required for my bathroom remodeling projects, such as, plumbers, ceramic tilers, electricians, etc. And within each one of these major trade categories I created separate breakout line items for individual costs that automatically got rolled up under the major trade categories and the overall cost of the bathroom remodeling projects.
In addition, I also included budgeted and actual columns so that I could constantly compare my real costs to my budgeted costs throughout each phase of my bathroom remodeling projects. |
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If you are interested in downloading my personal Microsoft Excel based Bathroom Remodeling Budget Estimate Spreadsheet template and its associated Bid Sheet, check out my Bathroom Remodeling Bid Sheet. The Bathroom Remodeling budget estimate spreadsheet is editable and automatically roles up the various trade categories and total bathroom remodeling costs (estimates and actual).
So whether you’re contemplating a small or large bathroom remodeling project, start off by creating a bathroom remodeling budget estimate. As you then move forward developing your bathroom remodeling plans and obtain bathroom remodeling contractor bids you can update your budget estimates. By creating a bathroom remodeling budget estimate at the start of your project and continuously maintaining it throughout the life of the project, you will mitigate cost overrun risks, and increase the probability of achieving the remodeled bathroom of your dreams.
For help on your bathroom remodeling project, see my Bathroom Remodeling Bid Sheet. The Bathroom Remodeling Bid Sheet provides a request for quote checklist section that you can provide to prospective bathroom remodeling contractors. It also includes a comprehensive bathroom remodeling cost breakdown table, in Microsoft Excel format, that allows the contractor to include his projected remodeling costs for every phase of the project.
Related Information
- How to Hire the Right Bathroom Remodeling Contractor
- Use this Checklist for Your Bathroom Remodeling Project
- Costing out a Bathroom Remodeling Project
Additional Bathroom Remodeling Design Resources
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