What Matters MostThe warning signs that a bathroom remodeler might not finish your project are:
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Hiring a bathroom remodel contractor is a major investment. A delayed, abandoned, or unfinished project is a homeowner’s worst nightmare. It leaves you with a torn-up tub and shower area, money paid out, and no one to call.
This happens more often than you might expect.
Since 2019, Shugarman's Bath has completed over 6,000 tub and shower remodels. We've seen what brings contractors down. Much of it has little to do with the quality of their work. It has more to do with how they run their businesses.
Here are the warning signs that can tip you off before you hand over your money to a contractor.
Table of Contents:
- What Warning Signs a Bathroom Remodel Contractor Might Not Finish Your Project
- The Contractor’s Bathroom Remodel Cost Is Really Low
- The Contractor Doesn’t Have a System for Managing Your Bathroom Remodel
- The Bathroom Remodeler Communicates Poorly
- The Bathroom Remodel Business Has Issues With Licensing and Insurance
- The Contractor Cuts Corners To Win Your Bathroom Remodel Bid
- How to Avoid Hiring a Failing Bathroom Remodel Company
Warning Signs a Bathroom Remodel Contractor Might Not Finish Your Project
The reasons a bathroom remodel contractor may abandon a project are cash flow problems, disorganized management, poor communication, licensing issues, and cutting corners on price.
The warning signs are usually there before you hire. Here's what to look for.
1. The Contractor’s Bathroom Remodel Cost Is Really Low
A price that seems too good to be true usually is. A contractor will give a really low bid to win you over.
While lower pricing will bring in more jobs, the cost of labor and materials doesn’t drop. With inflation, labor and material costs tend to increase annually. A contractor that underprices their work removes the margin needed to cover payroll, marketing, office staff, insurance, and unexpected expenses.
Cash flow problems show up when jobs don’t close out. Homeowners typically won't release the final payment until the work is finished and they're happy with it. Sometimes, even when the project is complete, homeowners don’t make the final payment promptly. If that contractor leaves loose ends for multiple projects, that means less funding for the next job.
Some contractors might offset this financial pressure by issuing change orders. A contractor who quotes low to win the job may come back later with add-on costs for work that a more thorough estimate would have caught upfront.
2. The Contractor Doesn’t Have a System for Managing Your Bathroom Remodel
Like any other company, a bathroom remodeler must manage staff, schedule projects, complete jobs, and collect payments on time. Small problems add up and turn big when management doesn’t stay organized.
Poor management creates a chain reaction. They have more irritated customers, overwhelmed staff, and payments that don’t come in because jobs aren’t finished. From your side, this could look like your start date gets pushed back with no explanation, workers show up without remodeling details, the contractor doesn’t show up at your home some days (or doesn’t show up again), and you can’t get a hold of anyone for an update.
When you're talking to a contractor before hiring, ask how they schedule and manage projects. If something comes up mid-job, you’ll want to make sure they know what to do and can communicate with you effectively.
3. The Bathroom Remodeler Communicates Poorly
Home improvement is one of the most complained-about industries among consumers. Much of this comes from poor communication from the contractor. Customers are frustrated when they can’t get a hold of anyone, especially when transparency is needed.
A company that stops communicating is usually stretched too thin, negligent of its clients’ needs, or in trouble. Either way, they won't stay in business long.
Check a bathroom remodeler’s reviews before you hire. Pay attention if multiple reviews mention unanswered calls, slow responses, or silence after a problem came up.
4. The Bathroom Remodel Business Has Issues With Licensing and Insurance
Licensing and insurance issues can quickly shut down a bathroom remodeler, especially in California.
According to the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), a contractor with a suspended license cannot legally operate. If their license is pulled or expires after starting your bathroom remodel, the work stops. A revoked license can bar a contractor from reapplying for up to 5 years.
Getting a license in California isn’t easy. There are multiple steps to getting a contractor license, including taking an exam. Make sure the contractor you’re looking to hire has put in the hard work to obtain these licenses and is qualified to carry out your remodel.
Proper and active licensing is a baseline requirement. Always look up the contractor on the CSLB website. Confirm that the license is active and that there are no suspensions or violations on record. It takes about 2 minutes and can protect you from a project that stops mid-remodel.
5. The Contractor Cuts Corners To Win Your Bathroom Remodel Bid
Desperation pricing looks appealing on its face. However, this often means contractors are cutting corners on your bathroom remodel. They might be hiring lower-wage workers with less experience and/or using cheaper materials to cut costs. Lower-quality materials are difficult to maintain and don’t hold up well over time.
Cheap pricing can also indicate that insurance coverage is reduced to lower overhead, leaving the company more exposed if something goes wrong. Those short-term decisions may keep a company going a little longer, but the company is one problem away from failing entirely and abandoning your project.
You likely won’t receive post-install support since the company running thin rarely has staff available. They may not be in business by the time you need them.
How to Avoid Hiring a Failing Bathroom Remodel Company
The contractors most likely to leave your project unfinished are the ones with cracks in their pricing, systems, communication, and licensing. The last thing you want is an unfinished bathroom and no contractor to call.
The next step is to learn how to properly find the right contractor for your remodel before signing a contract.
If you have questions or want to talk through what to look for, speak with our experienced, licensed team at Shugarman’s Bath.
The opinions expressed in the referenced materials are those of the authors only, not necessarily of Shugarman’s Bath. While these referenced materials are useful in answering generalized questions, each bathroom is unique. For a particular question about your tub or shower remodeling project, contact your Shugarman’s Bath consultant.
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