A quote is only as good as the brief behind it. If three builders come through and each one leaves with a different idea of what you want, you will get three numbers you cannot compare. An hour of thinking before the first visit saves a lot of back and forth later, and it usually saves money too.
Work out what you actually want changed
Start with the things that annoy you rather than the things you have seen online. A shower that is too small, a vanity with no storage, a door that swings the wrong way, tiles you have hated for ten years. Write them down in order.
Then separate the list into what has to change and what would be nice. That second list is what gets traded off later when the number comes back higher than you hoped, and it is much easier to trade something off when you decided in advance that it was optional.
Decide whether the layout is moving
This is the single biggest decision you will make. Leaving the plumbing where it is keeps the cost down. Moving it opens the room up but adds trades, time and wall and floor work.
You do not need to resolve it before we come out. Just know that it is the question, and be ready to be asked. We can price it both ways so you can see what the change actually costs.
Have a budget range in your head, and say it
People are often reluctant to name a figure in case it gets spent. It works the other way. If we know what you have in mind, we can put the money where it will make the most difference in your room and tell you honestly if what you want is not going to fit.
A range is fine. So is a ceiling you do not want to go past.
Start looking at tiles and tapware early
You do not have to have chosen anything. But walking into a showroom with no idea at all is slow, and lead times on some items are long enough to hold a job up.
Take photos of what you like. Even a rough direction, warm or cool, big tiles or small, matte black or chrome, is enough for us to price realistically rather than guessing an allowance.
Know roughly how old the house is
It tells us what to expect behind the wall. A 1970s bathroom and a 2010 bathroom are different jobs before anyone picks up a hammer. If you know of any past leaks, movement, or work done by a previous owner, mention it. It is better in the quote than in a surprise.
Think about the practical side
Where trades will park. Whether there is a second bathroom or toilet in the house. Whether anyone is home during the day. Whether there is a dog. None of it changes the design, all of it changes how smoothly the week runs.
Ask for the quote in writing, itemised
When the quotes come back, check they all include the same things. Waterproofing and its certificate. Rubbish removal. Making good the paint. The actual cost of the fittings rather than a placeholder allowance. A cheap quote with the waterproofing left out is not a cheap quote.
Ask how variations are handled and get the answer in writing. Ours is straightforward. The quote covers the scope as written, and anything that changes gets priced before the work happens.
Then get someone out
No amount of preparation replaces standing in the room. Once you have your list, your rough budget and a direction, an on site visit takes about half an hour and turns all of it into a number you can work with.
Ready when you are. Call Harry on 08 6261 4432 or send through a few details and we will arrange a time to come and measure up.
