I’m probably doing something wrong because the quotes I’m getting on the bathroom update are very insane. Surely, one bathroom, furnished with the cheapest options of all available, can’t cost 1/4 of the entire house? What do people normally do because those who have an odd $100,000 lying around to spend on one bathroom have already bought their brand-new mansions and aren’t needing to do any remodel.
The sales rep was downright contemptuous when I said their prices were too much for me.
We make a very good living. Truly can’t complain. But it’s still not enough to tear out an old shower and tub. Who has enough, then, is what I wonder.
Clarissa's Blog 
a neighbor redid her bathroom for about $15,000 I think a couple years ago. No change to wall or plumbing positions
Amanda
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That’s a reasonable amount I was hoping for. But I’m being told $75-90K and closer to 90. I’m not moving any plumbing or walls, either.
What should I do? My mother redid her bathrooms beautifully for under $10K CAD for both bathrooms but she had Ukrainian workers. And she did the design herself of which I’m incapable because I’m not gifted that way.
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“My mother redid her bathrooms beautifully”
So… ave her design yours and start looking for Ukrainians in the greater St Louis area…
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Where are you getting recommendations from?
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The most recent was from Home Depot. And the previous was a local company I met at a city fair.
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I’d start asking around your local FB groups, and among other people in your same income bracket. Clearly other people are getting work done on bathrooms, and they’re not all gazillionaires.
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I would also try using Angi to see reviews of contractors. I don’t recommend trying to set up the project through that website, but the reviews can be useful.
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sometimes contractors already have work lined up or aren’t interested in doing the job, so they quote insanely high to make the job “worth their while.”. Keep looking.
My parents redid their (small) bathroom two years ago for under $20k.
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“the bathroom update”
A few years ago a friend had tub taken out and a shorter, lower shower put in and some retiling and a new sink and it was around $1000.
So…. yeah.
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If all you want to do is update tile etc., you don’t need a big company or even a general contractor. A skilled handyman will do and the price should be around that 10 to15,000 mark. Ask friends, colleagues, coworkers, parishioners. Also go and look at what they’ve done, any handyman proud of his work will ask former clients if they will serve as references. How do I know, were on our 7th home renovation and rarely work with general contractors, we find a great handyman, pay him well and make sure we clearly communicate our needs.
We also don’t ask for hard bids, we do time and materials, by now we know what costs should be and what the work should look like.
don’t leave it up to the worker to decide what your finished bathroom should look like, you’ll get what he wants. Your style is probably very different from today’s “millennial grey” design
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