Roll Up Your Sleeves, Save Money During Remodeling

blr-editor | July 3, 2011 | Comments (0)

Elbow grease can save you thousands

A few months ago, we decided to remodel our outdated bathrooms, but were understandably wary about contractors and all the stories we heard about price gouging and shoddy work.

I had two objectives - to learn a bit more about how remodeling was done, that is to demystify contracting work; and to save money by employing the do-it-yourself spirit.

Just like we’ve lost connection with the food we eat, just picking up shrink-wrapped food from the store, most of us have also lost connection with the homes we live in and the appliances we use.

I remember the time I had a frozen garbage disposal in the kitchen and had a handyman come in to fix it. After making sure he would be paid, he then pulled out this little Allen wrench and in two seconds, fixed the disposal unit.

Suffice to say, I paid him $60 for his “help” and promptly went out and bought the Allen wrench for $5, so I’d never have to call him in again for that.

Using the Internet

Of course, the big game changer in home repairs today is the Internet and more specifically, the many websites that can give you practical help and advice in home repairs and remodeling.

So it was that I turned to a clearing house, servicemagic.com, to obtain quotes from a variety of vendors. There are other clearing houses for home repair businesses, but this is the service we selected.

The good thing about services like Service Magic is that they conduct some due diligence in screening contractors so you don’t have to. In addition, you can read previous reviews by other customers.

The idea also is that you can very easily collect a bunch of quotes in short order by the contractors who immediately call you after you put in an online request. The rest is up to you.

What I mean by that is while the quotes are objective items you can score, you also have to be a judge of personalities and attempt to select the person that best suits your needs.

Pursuing My Remodeling Project

Use the Internet for Remodeling Tips

My service request to Service Magic was followed by a procession of contractors who gave me quotes all over the map.

The best quote for remodeling the 2 and a half bathrooms was almost a third of the most expensive quote.

Best of all, it was also the guy I felt most comfortable working with on the remodel.

The next step after I received a quote was to identify with the contractor, tasks that I felt that I could accomplish (with the help of YouTube, of course!).

He didn’t feel threatened by this; on the contrary, he was happy at my involvement in the project. By the way, I did get a hostile reception from some other contractors, who I was excited to show the door.

What tasks did I reserve for myself? Mostly demolition. I removed the existing tile in the bathrooms, I ripped out the vanities, I cut out the drywall, I removed the bathtub in one bathroom and the shower base in another.

I also painted after the new bathroom was put in. In other words, I did a lot of work. Was it worth it? Absolutely. I learned about how bathrooms are put together, I got in a lot of exercise, and yes… I saved thousands of dollars.

I also ended up really happy with the work done by Franchetti Tile and Marble. Great work, Jonathan!

Can You Do the Same Thing?

I think if you are in relatively good health, have a little time to spare and are not in a rush, you can absolutely do the same thing I did.

I know the question you might be asking and the answer is: No, I’m not particularly handy. While I’m not a klutz either, it really was YouTube and other websites that helped me out.

I simply took the time to find videos on tools to use, how to remove tile, how to cut drywall, electrical precautions, how to take out a toilet bowl, and my favorite – how to remove a bathtub. That was my high point and the toughest challenge!

So I’ll summarize the main points here that can save you tens of thousands of dollars while remodeling:

Get quotes from many vendors
Interview vendors to find out how knowledgeable they are and who you can work with on the remodel
Try to understand the work involved and which parts you can do yourself. Remember that tear-down/ demolition activities require the least skill.
Give your projects enough time to allow your involvement. Again, the contractor does not need to start until demolition is complete.
After initial pricing, work with the vendor to subtract the cost of your activities.
Get proper protective equipment (I cannot stress this enough!!) This includes goggles, mask, gloves, an electrical tester, knee pads etc.
Invaluable equipment for teardown includes: a hammer and a crowbar, wrenches and all varieties of screwdrivers. If you will work with drywall and or removing tiles, invest in a proper breathing mask with filters. Don’t skimp by using the paper ones.
Use the Internet to find guides on every task involved in your remodeling. They are available in abundance and got me out of many tight spots.

Enjoy your next remodel, get involved, use the Internet, save money and….be safe. Comment to let us know your experiences and please share/tweet this story.