Auckland Bathroom Renovations NZ – Your bathroom renovation checklist
Are you thinking about renovating a bathroom (or two) in your home or rental property. The first important task is finding the right renovation team for the project. How do you go about finding the right bathroom renovation company to trust with the work?
We’ve put together our bathroom renovation checklist to help make finding a reputable bathroom company an easy and stress-free process for you.
1. Ask around
The easiest and often the safest way to find a reliable trades team is to meet with one from a referral. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful forms of marketing. If a friend has had a memorable renovation experience – good or bad – they’ll be happy to share their opinions with you. You can ask them about the project experience. Such as:
- did things run smoothly?
- were there unnecessary delays?
- were the tradespeople punctual and polite?
- did they listen to your opinions?
- did they try to save you money where they could?
Additionally, ask them whether they would use them again for another project. That’s usually the most telling detail. However, if you don’t know many people who have renovated, don’t be afraid to ask around on social media. Many neighbourhood Facebook groups sprouted up through lockdown. Log in and see who you can ask in your area.
2. Look around
Start looking at the bathrooms of the houses you visit. It seems like an obvious one, but we sometimes shy away from using other people’s bathrooms when we visit. Even if you don’t need to use the toilet, ask if you can have a look anyway. Explain that you’re renovating and trying to get ideas. It’s a great way to check out different bathroom configurations and details you may not think of yourself.
In the case where you do know of someone who has recently renovated, ask to check out their bathroom. Most people will proudly show off their newly renovated space. Simply explain to them that you’re renovating and would prefer to use a recommended supplier or tradesperson.
3. Talk to your plumber
It may typically not be your first point of call, but your plumber is often the best person to talk to first when you’re considering a bathroom renovation. They will know:
- Precisely what is involved in reconfiguring or moving the position of the shower, basin, toilet, etc.
- How much of your existing plumbing work you can use versus what may need to replace or upgrade.
- Whether you need to upgrade a low pressure water cylinder to a mains pressure one. They’ll be able to advise you on whether it’s worth upgrading from an electric hot water cylinder to gas. (Either a gas hot water cylinder or a gas continuous flow system).
In fact, the plumbing components of a bathroom renovation are often more complex than the design elements. Hence, it makes sense to start by talking to a plumber, so you have a realistic estimate of the budget and timelines.
A reputable plumbing company will have a portfolio of bathroom renovation projects that they’re happy to show you. The team at Regency Plumbing has worked on hundreds of bathroom renovations NZ over the past two decades. We’ve seen a large number of bathroom designs and configurations. We can confidently manage even the trickiest renovation challenge.
4. Talk to your electrician
Like a plumber, a sparky will almost always look at a room in terms of both its design/aesthetics as well as its functionality. So if you have used an electrician – or know one – ask them if they have ever been a part of any bathroom renovations. While it’s often one of the smallest rooms in a house, the bathroom has a lot of wiring – lights, ventilation, underfloor heating, heated towel rails, power points, etc. Therefore, if you know a good electrician, ask them about bathroom work. They will either know a reputable plumbing company who can help. Such as the friendly team at Regency Plumbing. Or they’ll know of a renovation company that can help. Never underestimate the referral powers of your tradespeople. They’ve been in numerous homes and have a lot of contacts.
5. Ask to see samples, portfolios, photos of recent projects
As you start to talk to companies or tradespeople who have the skills to help, don’t be afraid to ask to look at some of their recent projects. They can easily access photos or a portfolio or have a section on their website dedicated to showcasing their work. In that case, this part of the investigative process will be much easier. In the instance they struggle to drum up samples for you to view, consider it a red flag. As they possibly have not done a lot of renovation work or are just not organised enough to have this information readily available.
6. Do some online research
Presuming you’ve received some recommendations to use a specific company, check out their website. It’s essential to use a company that takes pride in its work and has a viable, healthy business, All of which should be evident from its online presence. If a company hasn’t updated their website in years with examples of their work, how do you know how capable they are? Even better, do they have photos of their work on social media that they update regularly?
7. Ask about insurance
With any renovation project happening in your home (particularly if you’re living in the house while the work is going on). You need to make sure that you have insurance cover for any possible event that may result in damage or harm to people or property. Hence, we suggest you talk to your home and contents insurance provider. As well as asking the tradespeople you’re interviewing for your project what their insurance policies would cover if you decide to use them.
8. Ask about professional memberships or qualifications
Does the company or tradesperson you’re considering using hold any industry recognised credentials? Are they a Master Builder? Check if they a licensed gasfitter? Find out if they a qualified interior designer? These things may or may not make a difference in the service you receive and the end result, but it doesn’t hurt to ask upfront.
9. Ask for references
Just as you start the process by asking your friends, family, colleagues. For recommendations on who to use for your bathroom renovation project, the same holds true at the other end of the conversation. Once you’re talking to a potential tradesperson or renovation professional, ask them if they have any testimonials, case studies or even a couple of clients you can talk to. If this information comes easily. It’s possibly an indication of how well organised they are, how proud of their work they are, and of course, how willing their past clients are to refer them.
No matter where you are in the process of renovating a bathroom in Auckland. Whether you’re still doing initial research or you have a designer already lined up and are ready to start. Contact us a bathroom renovation company that can help you out with all your bathroom renovation needs. We’d love to talk to you. We’re here to answer any questions you have and help make your bathroom renovation project run smoothly. Give Regency Plumbing a call.