Keith Blay speaks passionately about how his company—Mr. Remodeler—is opening doors to allow seniors to age in place in their homes, and he literally starts each project by taking a look at the doors.

“Any project starts with the doors,” he explained. “You have to make sure that walkers and wheelchairs can fit through the existing doors in the house.”

Although Mr. Remodeler is focusing heavily on the senior living market now, the company has been building Kansas City for several decades with its wide array of remodeling projects.

Generational Transition

Just as the U.S. population is seeing a demographic shift as baby boomers transition to their later years, Mr. Remodeler has seen a generational transition too—in its ownership from father to son.

In an industry where many companies often don’t last more than a year or two, Mr. Remodeler has been improving Kansas City area homes since 1969. For perspective, consider that when Dean Blay, Keith’s father, started Mr. Remodeler, John Wayne was about to win the Academy Award for “True Grit,” and “The Brady Bunch” was premiering. Soon, Mr. Remodeler became part of that mix too, featuring Dean’s booming voice in the company’s radio commercials.

Dean’s voice has faded from the radio stories he made famous, but as the second-generation owner of the business, Keith said he still adheres to his father’s principles.

“My father did not have a goal to start a company that would last into the next century. But that’s exactly what he did. He did it by hiring people who believed as strongly as he did in responsibility, doing the right thing and helping others. Mr. Remodeler is made up of professionals who have been with the company for many years. We all believe in doing work we can stand behind,” Keith said.

Keith worked in the marketing world for several years, often teasing his dad that he was breaking all the rules of advertising. When the elder Blay became ill, Keith returned to the business, eventually taking the reins in 2013 when his father passed. “The company was always in my heart,” he said.

Planning to Age

The company’s customers pointed Mr. Remodeler to the booming senior living market as they called on the company to do general Kansas City remodeling projects. “We saw that many of them were planning ahead and asking for modifications they were going to need down the road. They were proactively asking about accommodations for bathrooms and kitchens, so we started integrating them into current projects,” Keith said.

Keith cautioned that some “improvements,” such as grab bars and ramps, can provide a false sense of security if they are installed improperly.

Always focused on safety and strong workmanship, Keith pursued accreditation for the burgeoning line of aging-in-place home modifications. Mark Wirth, the company’s general manager, became one of the first remodelers in Kansas City, if not the first, to earn the Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) certification in 2010. “We’re still one of the few companies with the certification in the Kansas City area,” Keith said.

Mark said the CAPS program teaches the technical, business management and customer service skills necessary for offering aging-in-place home modifications.

Aging baby boomers have higher expectations going into their senior years, Keith said, and one of those is to remain in their homes as long as possible. But they aren’t willing to settle for modifications that look institutional. “Manufacturers of products have changed their offerings over the last 10-15 years, and there are more and more options that blend into the home,” he said.

Among the accommodations that Mr. Remodeler routinely provides are:
> Grab bars
> Shower, vanity and kitchen alterations to increase accessibility
> Wheelchair-accessible tubs and showers
> Exterior and interior ramps
> Chair lifts
> Residential elevators
> Remote-controlled ceiling fans, blinds and electronics
> Flooring compatible with wheelchairs and walkers

Keith said that he and his team not only have the industry knowledge necessary to make these improvements, but they also never forget they are guests in their customers’ homes, and that makes all the difference.

Educating Future Customers

Keith is passionate about Mr. Remodeler’s role in allowing seniors to stay in their homes longer. He wants them to know that it’s an option and shares some of the things they should think about as they consider that choice. He plans to start offering workshops around town on aging-in-place topics. He is also a regular guest on “Senior Care Live,” which airs on KMBZ at 11 a.m. on Saturdays.

“We offer a consultative, no-pressure approach. We want to solve problems,” Keith said.

Mr. Remodeler

In Missouri, call (816) 453-3049 // In Kansas, call (816) 453-3049. Get.Info@mrremodeler.com // www.mrremodeler.com