A Bathroom Remodel Is The #1 Home Improvement Project You Can Do

Did you know that a bathroom remodel is the #1 rated home improvement project you can do for overall return on investment according to the Wall Street Journal? So everyone wonders, “Is it worth the money to remodel my bathroom?” Local realtors say, yes. However if you really don’t want to spend that kind of time or money, you need to fake it. Realtors say, nowadays, you can get rid of that yucky, moldy old tub with a new, beautiful walk in tub, or a wall surround. Just basically change whatever is ugly.

Paint a pretty color and get new accessories, and your bathroom can look transformed. All in about a day, for a fraction of the cost. On the other hand if you are committed to a total renovation it’s good to know that economists say remodeling a kitchen or a bathroom is always a smart investment. They even go as far as saying that all renovations should be done “where the water is.” Meaning kitchens and bathrooms.

So what kind of return will you get on your investment? You should not expect to fully recover the amount of the remodeling investment right away. Typically, you can expect between 80% and 90% back on your home improvement investment dollar, sometimes more, within the first year or two. With the proper remodel, you can increase and even make money on the improvement the longer you stay in the home. By being in the home a longer period of time, you give the real estate market time to increase and you leverage the remodeling investment as property values grow.

Investing in home improvement makes sense in most cases and under most economic climates. The homeowner should do their homework; use the resources available to them to help plan a budget and determine what type of changes they want to make.

Keep in mind the most important reason to renovate your bathroom is if the structural integrity of your home is being affected or damaged by excessive water, mold or moisture. The long term loss or depletion in the value of your home could be serious in this case. So if you have an old, moldy bathroom, remodeling or replacing the ugly, is always a good idea!

Bath Planet featured on WGN-TV

Bath Planet was featured in a segment on WGN-TV on February 28, 2012. The segment focused on bath safety and had great visuals with an actual bathtub demo from Bath Planet set up in-studio. Rick Hirschhaut discussed the kinds of bathtub accidents that can occur for people of all ages, and the many different types of safety features available for the bathtub and shower at Bath Planet. Click here to view this great segment!

Bath Planet featured on KOLO-TV Reno

Bath Planet was featured in a segment that aired on KOLO-TV in Reno on Thursday, February 9, 2012 that focused on bath safety. Bath Planet of Reno owner Alan Hansen talked about the kinds of bathtub accidents that can occur for people of all ages, and explained how having Bath Planet complete a remodel is a quality of life update done on the home. There was even mention of the many different types of bathtub and shower remodel solutions available at Bath Planet and all the many safety features available as well. View the segment below, or download it here!

Bath Planet Dealer Profile: Mike Sepanksi

What was your career before getting into the home remodeling industry?
I have been in the home remodeling industry for 31 years and was in the real estate industry prior to that.

How did you learn about Bath Planet?
We had actually been looking at adding acrylic bathroom remodeling products for a while now and explored various companies and explored what they would add to our existing business. We just stumbled into Bath Planet recently, made some inquiries and it looked like a good opportunity to add this type of business in Toledo.

Why make the transition from siding and windows to bathroom remodeling?
Right now, we do roofing, siding, gutters and enclosures. The main reason for adding the Bath Planet dealership is in the economy, it’s a matter of adding quality product lines to get you more customers. This seemed like a real good fit based on the research that we did and we feel strongly that our customers will love the products, designs, colors and warranty.

How many jobs is this new agreement between you and Bath Planet going to create?
To start, we’re looking at hiring one installation person to start with and two sales people. We’d love to see the number of jobs Bath Planet creates eventually double or triple.

How did you perform your due diligence? In other words, how did you conduct your background check on Bath Planet?
We had been looking at various lines for the past year. It’s really a timing situation. The company and products looked like something solid based on the research we had done about Bath Planet and BCI.

What was most appealing to you about becoming a Bath Planet dealer as opposed to going another route?
ABC Seamless Siding itself is a franchise and we’re paying franchise fees on a per job basis. With the Bath Planet dealership, it’s an an annual type of thing, almost like a participation thing as opposed to a monthly franchise fee.

How does the revenue model work? How do you benefit as an existing business owner from being an authorized Bath Planet dealer?
It’s just going to add to the bottom line. The age of the properties in the Toledo metropolitan area are such that it’s right up this alley. The price is right up this alley. With this you’re looking at a price point where it’s doable for most people and finance companies are willing to lend on the amount. It’s going to add more volume to what we’re doing at a price point that’s perfect for this day and time.

What did you find most appealing about home remodeling?
It’s the only thing I’ve ever done. It’s always earned me a living. We’ve taken on some different product lines and one recently was metal roofing that’s just spectacular when it’s done. All the products we carry are top of the line and what we sell is unique in quality. Consequently when you do a good job with a good product, it gives you satisfaction. That’s what brought us to Bath Planet, actually. There were some other options but this just screamed quality.

What obstacles have you overcome to get where you are today with your business?
I purchased the company from the original owner six years ago so we had name recognition in Northwest Ohio. That was probably the thing that helped us hang in there through the toughest time over the past few years. Our biggest obstacle is financing. Very little financing is available anymore in this industry and if you do get something financed, people have to be at the highest level of credit score. The typical young couples that need window replacements can’t afford to spend $5,000 on a project without some level of financing for the project.

What are your expansion or development plans?
Everything is based on the growth. If this business extension meets our expectations, there are obviously lots of opportunities out there since this is a newly launched concept through BCI. We’re planning a lot of spring shows, fairs and we’re looking to try and get some advertisements on TV. With it being a totally new company in Toledo, we haven’t been able to directly speak with the customer yet.

Bath Planet® Enters Toledo Market

Introduces affordable bath remodeling solutions with revolutionary customer experience

More people are choosing to invest money in their homes these days rather than go out and buy new ones. Bath Planet® of Ohio (a division of ABC Seamless Siding) has recognized the uptick in small renovations, which has led to its newest decision to become an exclusive authorized dealer of Bath Planet in Toledo. 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.

Toledo native Mike Sepanski has been in the home remodeling business for over 30 years, buying ABC Seamless Siding, located at 5511 Telegraph Road, from an old high school friend back in 2005. Under his leadership, ABC Seamless Siding has continued to be the leading provider of quality roofing and siding repairs, earning a strong reputation for providing quality work at an affordable price. While business has been steady, Sepanski and his leadership team were looking to expand their offerings, knowing that more people are staying in their homes longer. After a year of research, they found Bath Planet, a brand that fits in with their mission.

“Bath Planet made sense for us because its designs are high quality, practical, and perhaps most importantly, affordable,” said Sepanski, owner of Bath Planet Toledo. “With this product, we’re able to completely renovate a home owner’s bathroom in as little as a day, giving them a fresh new design without inconveniencing them for a long period of time.”

Sepanski said the tough economy forced him to think of ways to evolve ABC Seamless Siding’s business so that he was able to attract new customers while creating jobs in the process. His store will allow him to do just that, creating three jobs initially that will be filled by Toledo residents. With money running tight for everyone these days, Sepanski wanted to add an interior remodeling option in the form of bathroom renovations that was both cost-effective and easy to implement. Since more people are either staying in their current homes longer or investing in older homes, he says it made sense for him to offer a bathroom remodeling solution that improves people’s quality of life while adding value to the home for the long term.

“We are excited to have ABC Seamless Siding on board as our first authorized retailer in the state of Ohio. Mike and his team have established a reputation for going above and beyond for their customers,” said Rick Hirschhaut, senior vice president of Bath Planet. “In Mike, we have found someone who is committed to his community, a business leader who prides himself on doing a quality job for his neighbors at an affordable price.”

Sepanski said his dealership will be run out of ABC Seamless Siding’s existing store, with a number of products on display for customers to choose from. 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 demonstrates 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.

Bath Planet featured in Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine

Bath Planet was featured in an article in Kitchen and Bath Business Magazine titled, “Bath Planet Launched by BCI.” The article states that Bath Planet provides a cost-effective and low-maintenance solution for people who are seeking bathroom renovations and an aging-in-place solution. BCI launched Bath Planet to bring consistency and customer service to an industry that has a reputation for being largely unreliable and by offering an outstanding experience and lifetime product warranty their dealers will stand apart from other bathroom remodeling and bathroom in a day concepts. Click here to view the article or begin reading below.

Bath Planet Launched by BCI

BCI Acrylic Bath Systems is launching a new consumer brand, Bath Planet. The brand is designed to offer homeowners cost-effective and low-maintenance bath improvements for those seeking aging-in-place solutions.

Bath Planet’s tub, shower and wall systems can be installed over an existing tub and walls, and installation can be completed quickly. Bath Planet is the first consumer brand for BCI Acrylic Bath Systems and has earned the Good Housekeeping Seal.

(Read More)

Bath Planet featured on Business Owners ToolKit

Bath Planet was featured on a radio interview with Business Owners ToolKit titled, “Branching Out in a Recession.” The segment discusses the launch of Bath Planet as a solution for homeowners with the “bathroom in a day” idea. Bath Planet creates wet-space solutions that can be easily added on to existing business models and offer new business opportunities in the home improvement industry. What Bath Planet realizes is that the bathroom remodeling industry has been largely unreliable and Bath Planet brings customer assurance and reputation, backed by the Good Housekeeping Seal, for a consistent, outstanding service experience by any one of their exclusive dealers. Click here to visit the podcast, starting at the 9 minute mark.