From communication problems to budget transparency, the 2024 Houzz UK Bathroom Trends Study* revealed some of the main niggles that homeowners come across when renovating their wash spaces. Read on to discover clients’ biggest bathroom renovation challenges and some tips on how you can use Houzz Pro tools to solve them.
Challenge 1: Finding the right pro
The number one challenge for clients when they’re hiring a professional for their bathroom renovation is finding someone they can trust, according to our survey. In fact, a whopping 80% of respondents said this was an issue for them.
So what’s important for homeowners when it comes to looking for a renovation professional? Half of those we surveyed said they wanted someone who has experience in the scope of projects similar to theirs, and nearly 70% said that recommendations, references and online reviews were important factors in their choice.
Solution: Take the time to get your online presence up to date, as this is where you can make a good first impression. Make sure your website, Houzz profile and social media channels display your skills and experience. You can do this by including plenty of images that show the types of projects you’ve previously worked on, and adding detailed written descriptions of the projects to clarify your skills.
As recommendations are key, it’s important to have reviews on your online profiles. Ask happy clients to leave some feedback straight after a project, and give them incentives to put up a review.
“I always follow up the end of a project with a thank you email,” Natasha Burton of NB Interiors UK says. “I end it by asking clients to leave me a review and explaining the benefits to me and my business of the reviews.”
Challenge 2: Receiving quotes
Once clients have made an initial connection with pros, it can be frustrating when the follow-up isn’t as clear as they were hoping, particularly when it comes to receiving quotes.
Indeed, 40% of those we asked in our survey said they found it a challenge to get an estimate or proposal with enough detail when planning their renovation, and 61% said they are having that issue right now during an ongoing project.
Solution: If you want to stand out from the competition, speed and detail are key when it comes to sending estimates. Make sure you get quotes over to prospective clients as soon as possible, but don’t scrimp on the details.
If it’s tricky to find time to draw up a clear and detailed proposal or estimate, consider setting up templates that you can quickly populate as soon as you’ve spoken to a potential client. The Houzz Pro Estimates Builder is a really handy tool for this, as it allows you to create detailed and accurate estimates in minutes, either from your desktop computer or from your mobile app while on the go.
Challenge 3: Being kept in the loop
The most frustrating challenge for homeowners during their bathroom project is communication – or lack of it. Half of the respondents said they’re finding it difficult to get timely and accurate communications from professionals during their ongoing renovation, while 52% said clear communication from professionals would have improved their experience.
Solution: Prioritise communication and keep your client updated from the beginning to the end of the bathroom renovation. “I always think it’s super-important to keep your client in the loop as much as possible,” Sarah Davies of Floella Interiors says. “I tend to keep an open message feed [in order] to go back and forth quickly with a client on updates and relevant info.
“I also then have a whole feed of info should I need to refer to this during the project,” she adds. “The more the client feels a part of the project without having to get into the nitty-gritty, the better.”
Houzz Pro’s Client Dashboard is a great way to communicate with clients throughout the project. You can quickly and easily share all aspects of the project, including timelines and daily logs, and the client can access it independently and in their own time.
Challenge 4: Understanding the timeline
It’s hard to overestimate the importance of being clear about a schedule when it comes to keeping clients happy.
Timing is a big issue for homeowners who are renovating their bathroom, according to our survey, with over half saying one of the biggest challenges they faced while carrying out their renovation was understanding timeline changes and staying on schedule. For 40% of the participants, schedule tracking would have improved their experience.
Solution: Don’t assume your client is as aware of your timeline as you are, and instead make time to keep them updated on what’s happening and when, and how the project is going.
Interior designer Claudia Dorsch recommends creating a works timeline at the beginning of a renovation. “This helps the client to see exactly what’s happening and when, dates of when items will be delivered, a schedule of when tradesmen will be on site, and a schedule of works for the builder,” she says.
Consider using Houzz Pro’s Schedule tool to help you stay on track with your team throughout the project, and share progress updates using the Client Dashboard.
Challenge 5: Keeping a handle on the budget
As well as timeline tracking, budget tracking is vital for clients when renovating their bathrooms. Over half of our survey participants said that “pricing within my budget” was the most important factor when hiring a pro, indicating that costs are clearly a big consideration.
During the project, nearly 40% of respondents said that tracking the budget, expenditures and changes over time was a major challenge and more than 30% said transparency concerning costs would have improved the experience.
Solution: Be clear about the budget right from the onset of a project, and keep this clarity going, so your client feels informed and in control. Cat Hoad, formerly of Absolute Project Management, advises setting up an outline budget at the beginning of the project, with headings, including the approximate cost for the various professionals involved and estimated costs for each part of the second fix.
“The total can, of course, change dramatically,” she says, “but it’s a means for the client to see clearly how their money is likely to be spent, and it helps them to make decisions and prioritise accordingly.”
For any alterations during the project, the Change Orders tool is an easy way to track, manage and invoice. You can easily create Change Orders and send them to the client for approval.
*The 2024 UK Houzz Bathroom Trends Study is a report of homeowners who are in the midst of, are planning or have recently completed a bathroom renovation. The online survey was fielded to UK Houzz users from November to December 2023. n=228.
