According to a recent Cost vs. Value Report (a combined effort by Remodeling magazine and REALTOR® Magazine), doing a mid-range bathroom remodel is one of the more popular home improvements. Homeowners can recoup an average of 78% of their investment.

If you plan on selling your house anytime soon, local realtors say in this market, you need to have updated bathrooms. The new standard for home buyers is move-in ready! While the idea of a new home has traditionally meant that a property may need a bit of work, a recent Coldwell Banker survey finds that most buyers aren’t looking for fixer-uppers anymore. When potential home buyers look at homes, the first thing they want to know is if the bathroom has been remodeled, and if it is updated with modern amenities. Most home buyers like to see glass shower doors, adjustable shower heads, tiled backsplashes, and pretty vanities.

According to the poll, 87 percent of recent buyers said finding a move-in ready home was important to them. Realtors say there is no question that a bathroom remodel can add significant value to your home. Many homeowners shy away from remodeling their bathrooms because they feel that it is going to cost them tens of thousands of dollars and take six months. But homeowners need to keep in mind that home buyers just really want to see updated, they don’t care how long it took. With that said, you may just need to replace an old, moldy bathtub. Or is it your wall surround that has seen better days? If that’s the case, consider a high quality acrylic product that fits perfectly over your problem areas. No messy tear outs, and after you add fresh paint, new fixtures and accessories, you can have the beautiful spa like retreat you’ve always wanted. In about a day, for a fraction of the price of an expensive remodel!

Most seniors are proud, independent-minded people. They do not like the idea of becoming dependent upon others to bathe. Many won’t recognize the danger and will continue to stand up for showers until they actually have a dangerous accident. If you or a loved ones is a senior with limited mobility, you should be concerned about safety in the bathtub.

One way to make bath time safe without sacrificing privacy and independence is to have a walk-in bathtub installed. Walk-in bathtubs feature a doorway so that the user doesn’t have to step over the side. Walk-in bathtubs are gaining in popularity for residential use as more and more people decide that they are worth the cost to maintain their privacy and independence. Walk-in bathtubs are perfect for seniors because they are thicker and stronger, and will not flex or wobble like other bathtubs. Also, the extra thick walls are warranted not to crack, chip, or show wear after years of use. Aside from normal cleaning, walk in tubs are virtually maintenance free.

Walk-in bathtubs allow those who are unable to lift themselves over the wall of the tub to get into the bathtub with ease. By providing handles and stabilizing rails, walk-in baths help to decrease the likelihood of falls and injuries. Walk-in bathtubs are designed for anyone who may have a hard time getting in and out of a traditional tub. Now you or your loved one will no longer dread bathing. Instead, those with a walk-in tub look forward to bath time.

Not the case, anymore. If you have a moldy tub, cracks in your tile, or rust stains that will not come out, you can simply focus on the problem areas. You no longer have to  completely gut your bathroom. Instead, invest in a new,  shiny bathtub liner, wall surround, or shower base. Wherever your ugly is, you can hide it! It’s as easy as that, and you can do it for a fraction of the price! Aside from a lifetime warranty, the greatest thing about a bathtub or a shower liner is that you don’t have to worry about mold or grout lines. Liners keep mold from growing behind your walls because there are no grout lines!

Whatever area of your bathroom needs a facelift, you don’t have to worry about how long it’s going to take to fix it. Beautiful, acrylic bath systems can be installed in about a day! Many homeowners can’t believe that they’ve lived with their old, moldy tubs and showers for so long, and in about a day they can have the bath of their dreams!

Acrylic bath systems come in all sorts if designer colors and styles. Whatever your looking for, contemporary or classic, granite, or marble, you will be impressed with the selection. Local realtors say when home buyers look at a house, an unsightly bathroom is a definite deal breaker. Getting the pretty back in your bathroom will command you top dollar when you go to sell, and will ultimately help you turn that for sale sign into a sold sign!

In the remodeling world, that’s a great return on investment. So not only will you get to enjoy all that goes with having a new bathroom, you’ll recoup a big chunk on your investment if you sell your home. Local realtors say a beautiful, remodeled bathroom is a big advantage if you ever plan to sell your home. And since potential buyers place great importance on a remodeled bathroom, those homes tend to sell more quickly than houses with an older, outdated bathroom. Plus, you can command top dollar, because many buyers don’t want to have to deal with remodeling a bathroom.

Fixing safety problems is another reason to remodel your bathroom. Loose floor tiles are a potential hazard for you and your guests. In addition, loose wall tiles allow moisture to build up inside the walls and can quickly turn into a mold problem. Once mold starts to grow, it can get out of control if you don’t treat it immediately. After all, mold grows in bathrooms because it is warm and moist.

A new bathroom can make your entire home feel newer and updated. A bathroom renovation improves the look and feel of everything around it, especially when it’s a master bath. The entire master suite looks new when the bathroom is remodeled. Many homeowners say remodeling their bathroom was the best investment they’ve ever made, and they regret waiting so long to do it!

The second option is known as a replacement bathtub. This option can save homeowners up to 80% of the cost of tub replacement. A replacement bathtub is also the best green remodeling alternative. Experts in the bath industry say that a new bathtub may cost as little as $300, but when you add the cost of tearing down that old bathtub, removing it, getting rid of the bathtub and all the fixtures, and then dumping all the mess including that heavy bathtub at the landfill, it’s extremely expensive!

A replacement bathtub costs a lot less and benefits you by saving you the headache of dealing with multiple contractors. Replacing old tubs with new ones, also impacts the environment badly. Replacement bathtubs save valuable land space and energy resources that have been utilized in making new bathtubs and fixtures.

Another benefit of going the replacement bathtub route is time. Your old, outdated bathroom can be transformed into a spa like retreat in just one day! Also, experts say homeowners often make the mistake of trying to refinish or re-glaze their bath system rather than going with a replacement bathtub. Keep in mind that this is a band-aid solution that will not last! Covering up problems or old colors with glaze is a temporary fix that will end up costing you more money in the long run. It may look great for a few months, but it will not last.

Replacement bathtubs are available in a wide range of designer colors. You don’t have to choose the color of your old tub. Essentially, you can give your bathroom a new style, without breaking the bank!

Some other benefits of replacement tubs include the following. It efficiently removes away the mold and fungus from the surface of the bathtub and makes cleaning a snap.
With low maintenance you can enjoy using your new bathtub for a lifetime!

These walk-in tubs are designed to enable the user to easily step into the tub without having to raise their foot more than a mere couple of inches from the floor. They can easily close the door and seat themselves on the built-in special seat. At this point, they are able to undress without the fear of slipping.

With the door closed, the user can choose to fill the tub with water and take a bath. Alternatively, they may also use the adjustable, hand-held shower head that is provided, leaving the drain unplugged to allow the water to drain. If taking a bath, the water will need to be drained before the user opens the door to exit.

Walk-in bathtubs are the perfect solution to someone who loves baths but has a hard time walking in and out of their tub. For many, a walk-in tub empowers them with the dignity and independence of taking care of their own personal hygiene needs. Many walk-in bathtubs go beyond the practical, daily bathing needs. They can create a relaxing, and luxurious spa like retreat! Trust me, they are built to serve a practical function but to also be a beautiful feature of your bathroom.

Walk-in bathtubs feature a door that opens either inward or outward, depending on your preference. This allows you to step into the bathtub. You will no longer have to do a balancing act to try and safely climb into your bathtub! When the door is shut, its seams are closed with a watertight seam, forming the basin of the bathtub. This means you will not have to worry about any leaks!

Features:

• Walk-in bathtubs are designed with a critical emphasis on personal safety, and ease of use. Built-in seating is one feature that is built into the tub’s design to allow someone who is unable to stand, to bathe themselves.
• The seats are built directly into the tub, providing a comfortable resting place.
• Safety rails are an essential security feature that are installed on the sides and front of the walk-in tub, both on the inside and the outside of the tub. Additional rails can be added at your request, in preferred locations around the tub, to create an even safer bathing experience.
• Non-skid strips are applied in critical, strategic locations along the bottom of the walk-in tub to provide better traction and minimize chances of slipping or falling.

Realtors say if you either aren’t up for a huge bathroom remodel, or simply can’t afford one, one option is to simply replace the one area that is screaming for a makeover. For example, if your tub is covered in mold, grime, or cracks, a high quality acrylic tub will give it a fresh face and no one will ever know what lies underneath. This can be done in about a day for a fraction of the price of what it tales to completely remodel your bathroom.

If you walls are screaming for a facelift, don’t worry. If your walls are full of cracks and mold, and no matter how hard you scrub you can’t get it looking decent, you should replace it with a wall surround. One of the great benefits of these surrounds is their comparatively low cost. The cost of the unit is reasonable compared to some of the ceramic tile products on the market.

Some of the advantages of an acrylic bathtub wall surround are: thermally molded acrylic surrounds are more durable and stronger than grouted tile, fiberglass, or other materials; no grout means no mold or mildew, no yellowing, cracking, or fading, since no epoxy resins are utilized in the manufacturing process.

These acrylic, custom wall surrounds fit like a glove perfectly so you will not ever have to worry about mold forming underneath. Plus they are manufactured from durable, high-gloss acrylic that won’t crack, peel, chip, rust or mildew.

Traditional bathroom remodels are very comprehensive and demand a lot of time and financial commitment. Realtors say, once you fix the one or two areas that are beyond repair, a fresh coat of paint, new towels, rugs, and accessories can really be all you need to turn your bathroom into an attractive spa like retreat! And you won’t have to devote months of your time, and tens of thousands of dollars!

Introduces bath remodeling solution with revolutionary customer experience

PALATINE, IL—Beldon Home Solutions, one of the largest and most established home improvement companies in the industry, will join as an exclusive authorized dealer of Bath Planet®. Bath Planet’s® authorized dealers will showcase the newest bath remodeling products in the industry with exclusive colors and designs, offering stylish, affordable, low-maintenance solutions that satisfy customers by combining high-quality service with superior product offerings.

Beldon will be the first to introduce Bath Planet’s® Bath solutions to customers in the United States, beginning in seven markets: Boston, Denver, Maryland/Northern VA, Portland, Reno, Spokane and Washington D.C.

“We are eager to become an exclusive dealer of Bath Planet® because our philosophies and values are aligned. An unwavering focus on providing every customer superior products and services is what we strive for and have demonstrated,” said Chris Edelen, President and CEO of Beldon. “We are constantly searching for the best products in the marketplace, and we have found a new, innovative home solution for our bath remodeling customers in Bath Planet®.”

For more than 65 years, Beldon has provided homeowners and commercial customers with a variety of high quality home improvement products that are carefully selected to bring the very best the industry has to offer.  Similarly, Bath Planet® represents the culmination of many years of preparation, learning and experience around bathroom remodeling.

Most known for its presence in its 18 markets across the United States as a provider of LeafGuard® Gutter Protection Systems, Seamless Siding, Roofing and Baths, Beldon prides itself on guaranteeing the highest level of professional service and product warranty. For this reason, Beldon has carefully selected Bath Planet® because of its quality assurance, industry recognition, innovation and reliability.

“We are excited to have Beldon on board as our first authorized retailer in the United States. They can provide the expertise and exceptional service that our company prides itself on,” said Rick Hirschhaut, Senior Vice President of Bath Planet®. “We have found a great partner in Beldon, as they have consistently been a leader in the remodeling market, providing superior products and delivering the best customer satisfaction.”

Bath Planet® has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal, which is given only after lengthy and meticulous evaluation. The credential is recognized widely as a symbol of consumer assurance and protection in the marketplace and once again demonstrates Beldon’s unparalleled level of commitment to the best products and customer service.

Together, the best minds in the industry have been brought together to research all elements of bathroom remodeling, including top tier manufacturing, installation, design and customer service. This foundation led to the development of the world’s best product value in bathroom remodeling.

ABOUT BATH PLANET®

Based in Palatine, IL, Bath Planet® was created by BCI® Acrylic Bath Systems founders Tom Barzantny and Scott Rosenbach. BCI® recognized a need for greater consistency between manufacturers and dealers in the tub and shower liner industry, and established their one-stop-shop company in 1999. Bath Planet® is backed by BCI®, a privately held, manufacturer of tub and shower-liner systems with a network of more than 550 independent dealers throughout the United States and Canada. Bath Planet® has earned the coveted Good Housekeeping Seal, recognizing the exceptional quality of its liner systems. For more information about Bath Planet®, visit our website at www.bathplanet.com.

ABOUT BELDON HOME SOLUTIONS

Beldon Home Solutions, which is made up of a conglomerate of LeafGuard® by Beldon Inc., Seamless Siding by Beldon, Beldon Custom Windows, Beldon Roofing and Baths by Beldon, is one of the largest and most respected companies in the home improvement business. Founded in 1946 by the Beldon family focusing on the roofing business, Beldon expanded into gutter protection in 1995 and is now the largest LeafGuard® dealer in 16 cities across the United States and Canada. In 2009, Beldon expanded into the bath improvements and added Bath by Beldon. Venturing one step further becoming a certified dealer of Bath Planet® Acrylic Bath solutions, the Beldon family continues to bring the highest quality products backed with unmatchable warranties and exceptional customer service.

In this first issue I just wanted to spend a minute trying to explain some of our history – and by doing so hope to eliminate some of the confusion in the markets that we serve about who we are….and what Bath Planet® is, compared to Luxury Bath in particular

Over the years of being in the remodeling business, I’ve heard one question more than any other: “Will I get a return on my remodeling investment?”

It is an interesting question with answers that are as varied as the type of remodeling projects available to a homeowner.

The obvious analysis on a question about “return on investment” is to ask about the numbers. “If I invest $10,000 in a remodel, will my home be worth $10,000 more than it is today as a result of the completed work?”

Let’s say it is April 2007. The economy is booming and the house you bought in 2005 for $250,000 is worth $300,000. You take out a home equity loan for $25,000 and get a new bathroom and some landscaping in the front and back yard. August rolls around, and it is time to sell the home. Depending on market conditions and your location, you can probably get the $25,000 back.

Fast forward to 2010. The $250,000 house is probably worth $250,000 again, or maybe $225,000 or $200,000. So, did the remodel pay for itself? This is a much tougher question, right? If you want to, or HAVE to sell now, you probably will not get your money back on the remodel, even though your house is more likely to sell than the neighbors house, where perhaps they didn’t make those investments. Obviously, buyers would rather buy a “home” and not a “project” with their hard earned money.

But the reality is that remodeling actually has less to do with a financial return on investment than with the way we live our lives. For most people, their home is their largest investment. But it is how we use our home that impacts our life and the lives of our family members. New landscaping can make family barbecues more fun, can make a garden possible, or can provide shade on a hot summer day or even a fire on a cool fall evening. A new bathroom can be clean, comfortable, refreshing, safe and beautiful. Perhaps your bathroom remodel even makes the room more accessible for a family member with a physical impairment.

In our business, we remodel bathrooms in order for our customers to live better. Certainly, we have customers who look for a financial return on their bathroom remodel, and they find it. Remodeling Magazine says that the financial return on a bathroom remodel is about 102%. But the other return on investment, the one that is about enjoying life, is the real value in remodeling.

Our bathrooms are:

• Easy to clean
• Accessible
• Installed in 1 day
• Custom designed to meet every person’s needs
• Warranted for life
• Affordable
• Always look brand new, even after years of use

So, when you look for a return on your investment, consider more than money. Money matters…but it certainly isn’t everything!