Why It’s Worth Setting Up a Shower Remodel Design Consultation

Setting aside 90 minutes to let a stranger look around your bathroom isn't how anyone wants to spend part of their day. You may worry about getting stuck in a sales pitch or dealing with someone who won’t take no for an answer.

Shugarman's Bath runs around 500 design consultations every month in San Diego and Orange County. The remodeling industry has earned a reputation for pushy sales tactics and vague answers. Our consultations are designed so homeowners feel comfortable with us in their home and leave with the answers they came for, even if they don’t move forward with us.

This article walks you through what a design consultant can see in person that a photo can't, how that shapes your price and design choices, and how to vet any contractor who enters your home.

Table of Contents:

• Why Is a Shower Remodel Design Consultation Worth Your Time?
• Can You Get an Accurate Remodel Cost Without an In-Home Visit?
• What Will You Learn About Your Tub or Shower Remodel Options?
• How Does a Consultation Help You Spot Red Flags With Any Contractor?
• What Happens Before, During, and After the Visit?

Why Is a Shower Remodel Design Consultation Worth Your Time?

A design consultation is worth your time because a professional will inspect your shower in person, check for problems, take measurements, understand the scope of work, provide an accurate cost, and answer your questions. You and the contractor will have a clear picture of the scope of work and what the price covers. Plan for the visit to take about 90 minutes.

How you receive pricing depends on the company. Some companies will provide a price range, while others give exact pricing.

A consultation visit is also a chance to see whether a company is a good fit for your home. Both sides want to know if it's a good match. The consultation is your first impression of a company. How the consultant treats you, and any red flags you spot, can indicate how your remodel will go.

A good consultation answers your questions instead of leaving you in the dust. A contractor should be able to explain their process and why their services cost what they do.

Can You Get an Accurate Remodel Cost Without an In-Home Visit?

No, you cannot get an accurate remodel cost. Every bathroom is unique, even in homes with similar layouts. Homeowners have different wants and needs.

A photo sent over social media can't create an accurate estimate. A photo doesn't show exact measurements or signs of water damage, damaged wood, or plumbing problems. It also can't tell a contractor which wall material, base, or accessories you want.

An in-home visit helps a design consultant understand what your shower needs. They can look at your layout, take accurate measurements, and spot potential underlying issues. They can also answer your questions face to face.

What Will You Learn About Your Tub or Shower Remodel Options?

Design consultants will bring materials for you to see and touch. Instead of picking from a screen, you get to see and touch your options. Samples include wall designs and colors, shower bases, showerheads, and finishes in chrome, brushed nickel, and matte black.

Your design consultant can also tell you how each choice affects your price. Say you’re struggling to decide between two finishes or features. The consultation is where you’ll learn how pricing varies between each item.

A design consultant can also point out what may not work in your space. A shower bench sounds nice, but in a small shower, it can eat up space you need to move around. You may have better seating options, such as a folding shower seat. They can also review your space's dimensions and suggest where to place items like grab bars or storage shelves.

You might also learn about options you didn’t know existed. For example, BP-Cor2 shower walls can give you the look of tile and grout without the maintenance hassle. Or you might see if you can reasonably fit a handheld showerhead on a slide bar.

Want to see how these options look in a finished bathroom? Browse our project gallery to see completed installations with different wall designs, colors, features, and finishes.

How Does a Consultation Help You Spot Red Flags With Any Contractor?

A good consultation also helps you assess any remodeling company. A good design consultant will walk you through what to look for with other contractors and help you spot potential red flags.

You'll learn how to check a contractor's license through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), which is a good resource for future home projects.

Next, review the warranty closely. A good warranty is simple and clear about what it covers. A warranty should be explicit, and a consultant should be ready and willing to go over it with you.

The contract is a binding agreement that should (literally) spell out what is and isn’t covered in the price. A design consultant should be willing to go over the contract with you and answer your questions before you sign. Don’t let them rush you through the contract.

Some contracts include language that lets the contractor charge more for hidden or unforeseen conditions found during demolition. Those costs often show up as change orders after work has started. Read up on the remodeling contract loopholes to watch out for.

Finally, watch for high-pressure tactics a consultant may use. Some consultants relentlessly try to wear you down by staying in your home and pushing until you say yes. You're allowed to take your time, and you're allowed to say no.

What Happens Before, During, and After the Visit?

Before the visit, you'll receive information about materials and the process. Reading articles or watching the provided videos helps you get a clearer idea of what you want and lets you prepare questions.

During the visit, set aside the full 90 minutes and plan to have everyone involved in the decision there. That way, everyone can contribute from the start.

If you decide to move forward at the appointment, you'll sign the contract and either set up financing or pay your down payment. Your contract and receipt will be emailed to you.

If you're not ready for Shugarman's Bath to start ordering your materials, you'll get a proposal and the information you need to help make your decision. The team will later check in to find out what you decide.

A Design Consultation Sets the Bar for Every Contractor

Even if you don't hire the company that comes out, the visit lets you know what makes one shower cost more than another and which corners are likely being cut when a price comes in much lower. This information lets you compare contractors accurately and choose the best fit for your home.

Now that you know why a shower remodel design consultation is worth your time, learn what to expect during the design consultation process. You’ll learn how the visit works before a consultant comes to your door.

Schedule a free design consultation with Shugarman's Bath. A design consultant will look at your bathroom, answer your questions, and walk you through every detail of your remodel.

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.