Tariffs, Sticker Shock & Vinyl Floors—Episode 1 of Our Lake Tapps Bathroom Remodel

by Don & Susie Karstedt

Though not quite as bad as the grungy cover photo for this article, we took on remodeling our master bath. It was a big decision-especially when we’ve never hired a remodeling contractor before. For us, the journey starts with a 1993 bathroom that has seen better days. Above is a picture of it. As you can see the vinyl--yes, the original vinyl-floors are still there and have lasted this long! But after three decades, it is time for a change. 32 years have worn down the cabinets and that old honey-oak stain has seen better days.

Why We Decided to Remodel Now

Several factors pushed us to finally take the plunge:

We started to notice ventilation problems and stains, even after updating our bathroom fan.
The orange stained cabinets had seen better days and as much as I polished them they were starting to look rough and dingy.
The space just looked tired and dated, and we knew if we ever wanted to sell our home, an update would be necessary.
Friends who had remodeled before us shared their experiences and costs, which helped us prepare for the inevitable sticker shock (and trust us, you will have sticker shock if you’re used to DIY!).
We realized the scope of what we wanted to do was simply too big for us to handle alone-so it was time to call in an expert.
And, as fate would have it, we found ourselves making these decisions right in the middle of a tariff war, which will definitely play into material costs and availability as our project unfolds.

Why We Decided to Hire a Contractor

One of the biggest reasons we chose to hire a contractor was time. A few years ago, we did a full renovation on a property for our real estate business, taking it down to the studs. That project ended up consuming Don’s focus for six months-a huge commitment that pulled us away from our core business and clients. This time, we looked at our current workload and realized that focusing on our clients needed to be our top priority, and the best way to do that was to let an expert handle the remodel.

Hiring a contractor means the job will get done faster and with professional quality, while we can keep our attention on what we do best. Plus, with our vegetable garden in full swing, we didn’t want to have too many eggs in one basket or risk stretching ourselves too thin. In short, bringing in a professional allows us to maintain balance in our business and personal lives and ensures the remodel gets done right the first time. Kind of like hiring a real estate agent--let them do all the work and you get to enjoy the time savings.

How Many Contractors Are in the Lake Tapps Area?

If you’re considering a remodel in Lake Tapps, you have options. There are at least 24 highly-rated local contractors serving the area, according to recent listings. This means you can (and should) take your time to interview several and find the right fit for your project.

Our Contractor Search: What We Did

We interviewed four contractors:

Three were referred by friends-personal recommendations are invaluable.
One we found on Facebook, which can be unpredictable but sometimes yields good leads.

We prepared a list of questions to ensure we compared each candidate fairly. Meeting in person helped us gauge their professionalism and communication style.

10 Questions to Ask Any Contractor

Are you licensed, bonded, and insured? Can you provide proof?
Can you show examples of recent bathroom remodels you’ve completed?
Do you have references from past clients I can contact?
Have you completed projects similar in size and scope to mine?
Who will be working on my project-your team or subcontractors?
What is the estimated timeline for completion, and how do you handle delays?
Will you obtain the necessary permits and schedule inspections if needed?
Can you provide an itemized bid or quote? This also includes when do I make payments to you and how much. If they are asking for a large down payment --BE CAREFUL!
How will we communicate during the project, and who is my main point of contact?
What is your payment schedule, and are there warranties on your work?

How We Narrowed It Down

Our process took some unexpected turns:

One contractor tragically passed away the night we were supposed to meet for a final quote.
Another never managed to get a quote to us-a red flag for reliability.
Of the two remaining, one was much more expensive (though willing to negotiate), and the other was more affordable and seemed well-suited for smaller jobs like ours.

Ultimately, we chose the contractor who was responsive, clear in communication, and offered a reasonable price. We learned that if a contractor isn’t responsive before you hire them, they probably won’t be after. Communication is key!

Final Thoughts: It’s a Big Step

Hiring a contractor for a remodel, especially when you’re used to doing everything yourself, is intimidating-and expensive. But sometimes, the job is just too big to DIY. We’re excited (and a little nervous) to see how it goes, and we’ll be sharing our experience along the way. Stay tuned as we take you through our Lake Tapps primary bathroom remodel-from demo day to reveal!

If you’re in the Lake Tapps area and considering a remodel, remember: there are plenty of contractors to choose from, so take your time, ask the right questions, and don’t be afraid to walk away if something doesn’t feel right. And yes, those vinyl floors can last a surprisingly long time-but nothing lasts forever!

Let me know if you want me to help with anything else!

Curious about more homeownership tips? Follow us at Rethinking Real Estate for insights and advice that keeps you informed! We have more blog posts at https://rethinkingre.com/blog

Prefer a different format?
You can also: