Most senior
Americans say they want to remain in their homes indefinitely, and more and
more of them are taking steps to make it happen. As a result, they’re driving
growth in specialized home renovations.
Nearly a
third of respondents to a recent, nationwide Angie’s List member poll said they
believe they will remodel
a bathroom to meet their own special needs or those of a loved one. Seventeen
percent said they already had done the work. While most had hired a traditional
contractor, 12 percent sought out specialists for their home
improvement work.
Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service
companies, surveyed highly rated service professionals who focus on special-needs
remodeling for insights into the trend.
One contractor said he already spends 70 percent of his time
retrofitting bathrooms to accommodate aging-in-place needs.
“Traditional
remodelers are capable of retrofitting a home to accommodate special needs, but
some are going farther and becoming Certified Aging-in-Place Specialists, or
CAPS,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks.
“We expect to see continued growth in this niche as demand increases.”
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) oversees
the CAPS certification. Since it began in 2002, the number of graduates from
the training has grown tenfold per year. Aging-in-place project costs can range
from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands, depending on the scope of the project
and quality of products used. The most common projects are:
- Installation of grab bars in showers and bath;
- Replacement
of traditional bathtubs with walk-in shower/tub;
- Installation
of vanities to allow wheelchair room; and
- Lowering
of electrical switches to accommodate people in wheelchairs.
“Whether it
costs $20 or $200, an improperly installed grab bar may not bear enough weight
to provide the stability it’s designed for – and that could actually endanger
the person who needs the support,” Hicks said. “If you’re going to the trouble
to increase the safety of your home or that of a loved one, spend the time it
takes to find quality help.”
Angie’s
List Tips for Hiring
a Remodeling Contractor:
- Communicate your ideas: Explain
what updates/repairs you want done to your home. Even rough ideas on paper
are better than nothing at all.
- Get at least three written
estimates. Documentation is often the best ammunition you have if things
go wrong.
- Check Angie’s List for consumer
reviews and to determine if your contractor
is licensed – look for a green checkmark on the search results page.
- Check company profiles on
Angie’s List for Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) or search the
NAHB website.
- A reliable contractor should be
able to easily and happily provide proof of his or her credentials.
- Don’t hire anyone who gives you
a post office box with no street address, or uses only an answering
service as a point of contact.
- Never pay the entire cost of
your project up front – pre-payment is typically 10 to 15 percent of the
total value of the project.
Angie’s
List collects consumer reviews on local contractors
and doctors in more than 500 service categories. Currently, more than 1 million
consumers across the U.S.
rely on Angie’s List to help them make the best hiring decisions. Members get
unlimited access to local ratings via Internet or phone, exclusive discounts,
the Angie’s List magazine and help from
the Angie’s List complaint resolution service. Take a quick
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