Is it cheaper/better to hire a contractor or hire individuals myself?

I would consider hiring a contractor unless you know of someone that does good work.

If you only have one bathroom, it is better to do the work yourself as you can keep necessary plumbing intact until you are ready to to replace it.

Generally speaking it's cheaper to hire an individual, but it does carry risk if the person is not reputable. Hiring a contractor is more expensive, but it also comes with the same risk. For major renovations I'll get at least 3 estimates from individuals or contractors that I've researched via Angie's List or some other similar website. Try to get names of customers that will answer your questions about the work done, timeliness, quality, ease of communication, etc.

I always get referrals from anyone I hire. Then you can choose who will be best for the job, by their past jobs.

That is all easy stuff, I would hire individually. Here is how I would do it.

1. Choose doors for closet. Purchase new baseboards if necessary.

2. Hire paint contractor, choose paint color, paint room, doors and either old or new baseboards and crown molding.

3. Choose new flooring, have installed in bedroom and closet. Install baseboards.

4. Install closet system and closet and bedroom doors - closet system people will install your doors for a small fee.

5. Complete! Now add furniture and decorate! If timed properly, can be done in a week.

This depends on you., and how much you are able to do. If you know how to do flooring, then you can do it. Go to a hardware store, and ask for directions on how to lay a floor. I hope this will show you the steps to take. As far as the closet doors, you can paint these, tho it may take more than one coat of paint. Put papers under the door, or take it outside before you paint, and do this in the shade, NOT in the sun. Best wishes, J.

This is a toss up. I have had problems with both.

We just finished (for us) a major job. We hired a nearby contractor we had met and also had referred to us. The first day the workers completely tore down our double side porches. Then they worked on them for about a week and then disappeared for two weeks. So what we thought would be a two week job took two months. I have no complaint about the quality of the work. My husband had done of lot of the detail work for the professionals to then install and he is doing the necessary completion work. But this would have been too big a project for only one person. For your project we would be able to do the work except for installing a new floor (although my sister and her husband did that in a large living and adjacent dining room) it really depends on your own skill level and time and comfort. But for different projects I would probably hire a contractor. Then you are dealing with only one other person.