Monday, August 23, 2010

Do You Have Renophobia: the Fear of Renovation?

The word “Renophobia” is not in Webster’s Dictionary, yet millions of homeowners suffer from it. It is the irrational fear of renovating your home.


That’s why Bath Fitter (www.bathfitter.com), a leading bathroom remodeling company, invented the word – “renophobia” - and then showcased it in a series of ads reassuring would-be renovators that it won’t break the bank or take forever to remodel – something akin to “renotherapy” or renovation therapy.

All jokes aside, the #1 reason people say they put off remodeling is cost, followed by the inconveniece and the mess of doing without a bathroom for several weeks in the remodeling process, according to a survey sponsored by Bath Fitter and conducted by Harris Interactive.

After all, before Bath Fitter, its founder Brian Cotton caused “renophobia” within his own family when he’d had enough with his struggle to remove the old bathtub in his home, which traditional renovation requires. He ended up attaching one end of a chain to the back of his car and the other end to the tub. With his wife gunning the motor, he removed the bathtub - along with most of a wall - that left him with a big view of his yard… and a big mess.

Cotton knew there had to be a better way and he found it. In the past 25 years, Bath Fitter has helped remodel more than one million bathrooms, helping to ease the “renophobia” plague throughout North America.

Following are some tips to help others overcome their “renophobia”:

Tip #1: Determine a renovation budget. Establish priorities and determine where to best spend money. How much are you willing to spend? How much are you willing to borrow? Check with your local realtor to see if a remodeling investment can pay off in the long run.

Tip #2: Decide which room to start with. The bathroom is one of the most used rooms in the house and a beautiful bathroom can be a luxurious sanctuary in which to relax and unwind. According to the Harris study, more than four in five U.S. adults (82%) say they love the feeling of taking a long, relaxing shower or bath, and nearly one in three (31%) say their bathroom is their sanctuary. Meaning: the bathroom could be a good place to start.

Tip #3: Risk doing it yourself – or hire an expert? No wonder people contract “renophobia”! Everyone has heard from someone about a DIY remodel gone awry. Tile work is one of the jobs often botched from putting new tile over old tile - without removing the old tile first. It’s important to work with licensed and trained professionals to ensure getting the desired outcome.

Tip #4: Remodel vs. redecorate. Redecorating with new towels, fixtures and paint helps the bathroom cosmetically, but when the grout on a shower or tub is peeling and old tile is cracked and discolored, the job likely requires a renovation instead.

Tip #5: Decide the scope of the project – and take action! A traditional bathroom remodel can take upwards of $15,000 and weeks of work. Companies like Bath Fitter (www.bathfitter.com) can get the job done in just one day and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional remodel

Bath Fitter is a leader in the bathroom remodeling industry. Since it’s founding in 1984, Bath Fitter has remodeled and refinished bathrooms in more than one million homes, apartment buildings, hotels, and other multi-unit properties through a network of franchised and company-owned locations across North America. Bath Fitter manufactures its own product: top-quality acrylic tubs, shower bases, and one-piece wall systems. Using a state-of-the-art thermo molding process, Bath Fitter’s tubs and showers are custom molded to fit right over the existing unit. For more information, please visit www.bathfitter.com or call 1-800-892-2847. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/bathfitter or our Twitter personality, Beth Fitter at www.twitter.com/BethFitter.

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