Leaving La La Land

Due diligence is an important aspect of any significant business transaction.  Spending thousands of dollars on a bathroom remodel surely qualifies as significant.  Based on the original design, we engaged two contractors to review the project, consider our options, and present their proposals.

Be careful for what you ask - you may get it.

The first bid came in.  Since I started the Bathroom Remodel blog topic posting with a quote, it's appropriate to use another.  I would characterize our reaction the same way Danny Kaye in White Christmas described to Bing Crosby the cost of doing a holiday show:  "How much is 'wow'? It’s right in between, uh, 'ouch' and 'boing.'"

We thought, OK... the second bid was very likely going to be the "low bidder" and would have a chance at survival (not his, ours!)  It was, but only by a few hundred dollars.  This is where the reality set in that is mentioned in the previous post.

Our new reality is to modify our plan, if there was any chance of being able to feel good about this project.  We did, and we are.  Another itinerary check: we're now leaving La La Land.

When one's heart is set on something, it's difficult to change course.  In our case, "two's" hearts were set on something.  But the revision was necessary.  We realized that much of the cost was the significant construction and plumbing requirements that would come with framing in a shower where a tub currently sits and building a cabinet where a shower currently sits.  We decided to leave everything where it was and simply improve the space to whatever extent was possible.

New (and what is proving to be a very successful plan): tear out the fiberglass shower enclosure, add the cabinet and second sink, select some nice tile and granite and call it good.  Actually, I'd call it great, but you'll have to wait until I can catch up on the posts to where we are on the project.

Stay tuned.