I recently had my bathroom renovated. Below you will see the review I made about the company I contracted with to do the work and the mistakes I made that cost me dearly. Please be aware the company I am referring to is a company on Chamberlain Lane, in Louisville, Kentucky. It is my hope that the following information and suggestions will help you in your planning stages.

"I contracted Trademark to renovate my upstairs bathroom, in a recently purchased old home. I should have read the contract closer before signing it. I was told they had professional staff and did very good work.

 My first mistake was not shopping around more before signing on the dotted line.

My second mistake. I didn’t listen closely enough, I was intent on what I wanted done and was disappointed when I realized how little could be done in my small space and at what cost. I should have taken a copy of the contract offered to me, looked it over in private and offered to call them with my final decision while, consigning the pro-offered discounts to the devil. Instead, I made a deal with him.

     My third mistake, I assumed this was a large company and they would do a professional job in a reasonable length of time. It took four telephone conversations, the threat of cancelation and thirteen weeks to get the job finished.

     My fourth mistake is also the biggest, I paid far too much money for three walls, a whirlpool tub and shower.

The renovation was subcontracted out. The men who did the work, did the best they could within their constrictions layout by Trademark. Finally, to get an enclosure for my tub, I had to expend more money to purchase doors, a light fixture with a fan to help control the humidity in the small room and the rest of the wall and ceiling in the room finished. I also had to find other workers to finish what Trademark started.

Trademark did exactly what they stated they were going to do. In doing so, belatedly, I feel I spent at least double what it would have cost me with the same results from a large established company (such as Lowe’s or Home Depot). I priced out the materials, aside from the backsplash walls, and found the cost to be less that $1300.  I also believe that when the renovation was first discussed with me, the sales man had no idea who would be doing the project, since it was subcontracted out in the end.

I made mistakes that cost me. So, my suggestions would be to ask about the estimated cost of materials for the project and then times it by 1.50 and see if you come close to the price offered to you and that goes for any company you deal with.

When dealing with a company such as Trademark, read the contract, have a good idea about the cost of materials that will be used, and price per hour for labor and if you can live with the cost continue on at your own risk."