A bathroom is the one of the most important rooms in any home.
It should be comfortable and functional.
But many homeowners find themselves stuck with a poorly designed bathroom and one of the first things they think about is getting a handyman to make the changes to get their bathroom updated.
So can a handyman remodel your bathroom?
Yes, a handyman can remodel your your bathroom when it’s a simpler remodel project that requires changing countertops or installing a new toilet which are relatively easy jobs. Bigger projects may require a designer and/or a licensed contractor depending on the level of remodeling you need and requirements of your local permitting agency.
So many homeowners are looking to get their outdated current bathroom updated or remodeled.
But they’ve heard horror stories from friends who had bad experiences with contractors.
And they also hear how expensive it is to hire a contractor.
If you’re debating between hiring a handyman or a contractor to get the work done there are some jobs that a handyman is the perfect fit for, and some jobs that should only be done by a licensed contractor.
So what type of job is a handyman project?
What kind of job is a better fit for a licensed contractor?
By the way – before we get too far along here, if you want to connect with other homeowners and builders and get more great ideas for your home to make your space the best join my free private Facebook group, Remodel Reality here.
Should You Hire a Handyman or a Licensed Contractor?
If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.
Red Adair
Home improvement projects come in all different shapes and sizes.
The scope of what you do in any given project also varies greatly too – doesn’t matter whether it’s a larger project or a smaller one.
Before deciding between hiring a handyman or a licensed contractor, it’s important to think about the kind of work you need to be done, how much you’re willing to spend on the project, and how much you know about the businesses you’re considering.
For example, handyman companies tend to cost less than a general contractor as their expertise is typically in smaller jobs.
However, general contractors are often more knowledgeable in bigger projects, hence why they charge more. In the end, you should stick with the option you feel most comfortable with.
Regardless of the project in question, you should always make sure whoever it is that you hire that they have the relevant experience in bathroom remodels and validation through customer testimonials, examples, references, etc. that they know what they’re doing.
Handyman vs. General Contractor: Pricing
With any remodel, the primary concern is often how much the project is going to cost to complete.
Depending on the extent of service needed, a quality. reliable handyman can cost anywhere from $65-$1,200. The average cost homeowners pay for a handyman’s work is roughly $390.
Beyond that, you should also expect to pay an hourly rate of anywhere between $60 to $125 per hour in labor costs.
On the other hand, hiring a contractor may cost you more.
When you hire a contractor to complete a remodel for you, you’re going to expect to pay for the materials, labor costs, and any hourly fees that come during the planning process.
In the end, you’ll likely end up paying somewhere between $6,601-$16,395 for your total renovation, with a good chunk of that end cost going toward contractor services.
The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Handyman
Along with the significant price reduction that comes with hiring a handyman over a general contractor, there are a number of advantages you get with a handyman instead. With that said, we know it’s important to look at all sides of any debate, so highlighting the drawbacks of hiring a handyman is important too.
Let’s look a little closer at both sides.
Pros
- You can do most of the work yourself. Using a handyman instead means you can bring in an expert only when you don’t feel confident completing a step on your own.
- Experienced handymen know what they’re doing. You don’t need to worry about shoddy work that was done by cutting corners.
- Delays aren’t an issue. Unlike contractors, handymen are experienced in getting jobs done quickly and efficiently. Because of that, you don’t need to worry about any potential setbacks in your remodel timeline.
Cons
- Finding the right fit can be difficult. For some jobs, the process requires specific expertise in order to be done correctly. It may be difficult finding the right handyman for a specific plumbing job you need during the remodel.
- They’re more likely to cut corners. Because most handymen work for themselves, it’s harder to hold them accountable if they cut corners on the job.
How Do You Know If Your Handyman is Qualified?
Finding a qualified handyman isn’t quite so simple as it would seem.
One way to find out whether or not you have the right person for the job is to ask around.
Ask friends and family members who they use for home improvement projects. They might recommend someone based on their reputation, but even then, you still want to double check before giving them the green light.
That means getting and checking references and seeing before and after images of the work they’ve done.
Another option is to take advantage of online resources like HomeAdvisor. This site allows you to search through its database of local professionals to find one that meets your needs.
If you’re looking for a handyman who specializes in bathrooms, you can narrow down your search using keywords like “bathroom remodeling” or “bathroom repair.”
Should You Hire a Contractor Instead?
There are also benefits and drawbacks that come with hiring a contractor instead of a handyman.
There are all types of contractors who specialize in different areas.
And depending on the scope of your remodeling project, it could require electrical contractors, plumbing contractors, framing contractors and other types of contractors working as subs under your general contractor to get the job done.
The cost of hiring a contractor will vary based on how many people are involved in the project. And because contractors charge based on time & materials, you’ll pay more per hour than you would with a handyman.
One of the benefits of working with a contractor is that often their pricing is all-inclusive.
That means the quote they give you covers all the labor costs not only for themselves and what’s needed for the overall project management, but also all the subcontractors, along with all the materials involved.
All the lumber, tile, piping, shower heads, etc. will be included, which makes it easier for you to get your head around when making a decision on your budget.
When it comes to choosing between a handyman and a contractor, there are pros and cons for both options.
But ultimately, it depends on what kind of experience you’re looking for.
A handyman is great for smaller projects, while a contractor is better suited for larger ones.
But either way, make sure to do your research first!
What to Expect During a Bathroom Remodel
There are a number of things you should expect once you decide to renovate your bathroom.
Repair jobs are easier to work with than a larger scale remodel.
Either way, there’s going to be disruption and that can be surprisingly uncomfortable.
So be prepared for disruption in your home while the work is going on.
Your daily life will be disrupted while the work is going on.
That means you will be showering and getting ready in the morning in another bathroom in your home while the work is going on and that can be disruptive to your family’s routines.
Your water service will be turned off while your handyman or contractor is working on the plumbing. This is something that can also be an issue that’s disruptive to household routines too.
Some kinds of work may require you to pull a building permit. It’s vital that you understand what’s involved with the building permit process before getting started.
If you need a building permit, this isn’t something you want to find out about once your remodel work has begun.
Part of your remodel budget should be set aside to prepare for potentially hidden issues.
If you’re doing a full remodel, it’s common to find hidden water damage and old pipes once you begin the wall demolition.
Things to Consider Before Hiring a Handyman
Before hiring a handyman, there are a few things you need to ask yourself and consider.
You’ll likely have ideas about what you’d like to do with your current space long before even start looking for a handyman or contractor.
But once you start to make steps toward hiring someone to do the work you need to make sure you’re doing your due diligence on anyone and everyone you’re considering for the work.
First off, there should be some kind of online presence for the person you’re interviewing for the work.
That means there should evidence that their customers and clients are happy with their work and talking about it online by means of reviews and endorsements.
In addition, you should also ask everyone you’re talking to about the work for references that you can talk to so you can evaluate whether or not they’re the right fit for your construction project.
You also need to know whether or not the handyman has the appropriate license to do the work they’re wanting to do.
Not every remodeling job is a complete overhaul, so the requirements for licensure can vary by the type of job you’ve got.
However, when professional credentials are required the person you’re interviewing for the work must have them – that’s a non-negotiable issue.
If they don’t have the appropriate license for the job, and the job requires it, then do not hire them.
Then there are instances where you might want to do some of the work yourself.
If you’re a proficient DIYer, you may very well get away with doing most of the remodel yourself.
Along with that, assessing how much you want to do yourself helps you decide which parts shouldn’t risk a DIY job.
There is a wide range of things that are involved in any job and you don’t necessarily pay someone to do it when you can do it yourself.
For instance, painting is a task that’s something that many homeowners find is easy to do with a little time and patience, and some people, like my friend Wes, absolutely LOVE to paint.
So make a clear outline of what tasks the handyman needs to do and what you plan on doing yourself and you can assign to the handyman.
What to Do After the Handyman has Finished
Do not under any circumstances write the final check until you’ve agreed that everything that needed to be done is completed to your satisfaction.
After you find a handyman and they complete their work, do a final walk-through with them.
Look closely at all the work and make sure it’s done to your satisfaction.
Make sure everything looks good and functions as designed.
If you’re not a DIYer then inspecting the more technical aspects of the build are not something you’ll be able to do yourself.
That’s the whole point behind building permits and inspections – to make sure that the work is done up to the standard of the building codes.
After your handyman has finished it also means that any final inspections that need to be done, if a license is required, are completed and the inspector has signed off on everything.
Only once you’re 100% satisfied with everything you’ve hired the handyman to do should you write the final check for the services performed.
How Much Does it Cost to Redo a Small Bathroom?
The typical cost to redo a small bathroom depends a lot on where you live. However, the national average for small bathroom renovations falls around $6,500.
Despite the national average, you could be looking at spending anywhere between $1,500-$15,000 to complete the project.
On a brighter note, once you decide to sell your home, you could be looking at up to 65% of a return on investment after fully renovating your4 bathroom.
Next Steps
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