My first remodeling project came with a lot of hits and a lot of misses. I decided to start small and began with my bathroom. My bathroom had not been redone since the house was built in the 1990s. I believe the previous owners replaced the shower doors but that’s about it. So I gutted it and redid the entire thing.

Here’s a couple tips that I picked up along the way:

• Shop around to see what contractor fit you and your budget best. Do not always trust your family or friend who is a contractor that promises to do free/discounted work because the old saying is very true, you get what you pay for.
• Prepare yourself and your wallet for the unexpected. While remodeling I ran into some halts in my project, like not understanding that vanities do not include the drain and faucet or with the mirror. Some vanities must be custom-built and can take up to a month or month to construct.
• Be flexible with your deadline. Hiccups happened, paint takes time to dry, you could buy a vanity or mirror and not like the way it fits, your contractor could take off work or have an injury happen, anything. Be flexible but focused.
• Make a Goal/Objectives List and stick to it. Check off progress on your project as you move closer to your end goal. Keep track of what items are needed or what has not been used.

These simple tips can make a renovation go a lot smooth. I thought I knew what I was doing but learned so much more in the process then before. Read articles and watch as many videos as you can. Research is incredibly helpful for first-timers and can lead to the expansion of remodeling your whole home.