What to Consider When Renovating Your Bathroom
Are you thinking about renovating your bathroom? Renovations can be a good way to get your creative juices flowing and a great way to add value to your home. Like any significant investment, you’ll want to do your research and map out a clear plan before starting. Here’s some advice to help you think through how you’ll approach this home project.
Make the big decisions first
The first task is to decide how to make your bathroom a more functional, practical, and relaxing space. What don’t you like about your bathroom now? Consider whether you want to demo the entire room or just upgrade certain features. Do you want to replace the clunky old bathtub with a more streamlined shower? Would you prefer to have more built-in storage? Think about what will make the most significant impact on your everyday life and potentially add value to your home.
Hire experts who can help you
Early in the process, decide if you can manage this type of renovation on your own. Are you someone who enjoys a big DIY project? Are you comfortable solving plumbing and electrical issues? If not, you’ll want to consider hiring a contractor, designer, and other specialists as you go. The right team will help you navigate the process from start to finish and offer their experience and know-how along the way. Speak with a few candidates to see who can best serve your needs within your budget.
Think through your budget and payment options
Once you’ve decided how you want to spend your money, it’s time to take a good look at your budget. You may have had a rough dollar amount in mind early on, but now you probably have a better sense of the costs of renovating your space. Be honest with yourself about your priorities, what you can afford, the types of loans available to you, and what kind of debt you are willing to take on. If you don’t have all the cash on hand, you might decide to borrow against the equity in your home, take out a personal loan, or even borrow against the cash value of your whole life insurance or another type of permanent life insurance policy.
Build in some extra cash
Even the most meticulously planned renovation will inevitably run into some snags along the way, so it’s advisable to pad your budgets somewhat. This doesn’t mean you suddenly have extra money to spend on high-end features or decorations. Instead, slightly overestimating your budget will allow you to work around any hurdles and have an emergency fund to dip into if something doesn’t go to plan.
Take pleasure in the details
The materials, finishes, and fixtures you choose are where you can really make a room sing. A fresh coat of paint can go a long way in making a space feel brand new, particularly if you are working with a smaller budget. The same goes for updated cabinetry, light fixtures, and flooring that make you feel like you’ve stepped into your own personal spa. Stay open to different ideas, get creative, and make the bathroom that works best for you.
The primary purpose of permanent life insurance is to provide a death benefit. Using permanent life insurance accumulated value to supplement retirement income will reduce the death benefit and may affect other aspects of the policy.
