Re: Shower Instead of Tub

Marsha2003 · ‎03-12-2010

Whether the lack of a tub will affect your resale depends a lot on how hot the market is at the time you sell and who your likely buyer will be.

I bought a 2 BR/2 Bath home last year in a market with very little choice. The previous owners had removed the tub in the primary en suite and replaced it with a walk-in shower. The other bathroom only had a shower. I love a long soak so a bathtub is a must-have for me, but I like the ease and speed of a shower in the morning, so the walk-in shower is great. I had a soaking tub (no jets) added to the second bathroom. Now, I have the best of both worlds.

All of that is to say that if there's not a lot of inventory in your market at your price range, the lack of a tub will not deter a buyer from purchasing your house, but it could be a negative if a buyer has a choice between two or more properties.

I agree with others that you should do what makes the most sense for your lifestyle right now. When it comes time to sell, you can assess the market and add a bathtub if your realtor thinks it would help resale at that time.

Puppy Lips · ‎05-09-2010

@Biftu wrote:
Thinking of redoing my bathroom and considering whether to replace my tub with just a shower. I haven't used the tub in years that has jets, but just not sure. My upstairs bathroom only has a shower so this would mean the house would not have a tub. Do you think this would effect the sale of the house?

@Biftu Yes, I do think it would affect the sale of your house. Families with little kids need a bathtub. So you would be reducing the amount of buyers looking to buy your house.

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. Margaret Mead

faeriemoon · ‎03-14-2010

I think if you're planning to stay forever in your current home you should do whatever makes you happy. However, if you have any intention of selling you might want to keep at least one tub in the house. When the housing market is busy and things are selling right and left it probably isn't a huge deal. But when there's a lot of inventory, and people can be selective, a house with a tub may satisfy more buyers.

~What a terrible era in which idiots govern the blind.~ William Shakespeare

SactoSue · ‎06-11-2024

If you have not used the jetted tub in years, I would replace it with a non-jetted tub. There will always be standing water in those pipes and I hate to think what might have been growing in it.

CelticCrafter · ‎03-09-2010

@Lucky Charm wrote:
We have 2 indoor showers and one nice outdoor shower. Just had the tub taken out of our bathroom to replace with a shower. Footprint is smaller now, so a wall would have to be knocked out, if buyers wanted a tub.

Same goes for the guest bathroom, smaller linen closet (walk-in) to accomadate a tub.

But I'm not worrying about any of it. I wanted showers only. There are plenty of buyers who don't desire a tub.

And a small tub could be used for infants/toddlers. It's what I used inside my bathtub when bathing my babies.

There is no way I would be able to contain my 2 1/2 year old grandson in a shower and he is way too big for a small tub.

Biftu · ‎02-05-2011

@SactoSue wrote:
If you have not used the jetted tub in years, I would replace it with a non-jetted tub. There will always be standing water in those pipes and I hate to think what might have been growing in it.

@SactoSue Yes, I would not get a jetted tub, this tub was put in by the previous owners. Even though I don't use it, I clean out the jets every year

Trailrun23 · ‎05-31-2022

We kept our tub in our master bath when we redid it a few yeara ago; but replaced it with a deep soaking tub (no jets). We have a separate shower in the master. I have never even used the tub but contractor and several real estate agents said a home needs at least one tub for the best resale. We have another tub upstairs that I want to get rid of also and just have a big shower; just looking for the right people to do it; am leery of the plastic-looking tub-conversion ads on TV. If you are planning to stay in your home, then I would change it if you prefer no tub.

AuntG · ‎03-09-2010

We replaced our tub in favor of a shower that takes up the same amount of space. Still, I'm glad our other bathroom has a tub.

branny · ‎01-19-2012

yes I do think it might affect the sale of a home. When I watch house hunters on tv a lot of buyers want a tub. Also children take baths. I would keep the tub and have the shower in your space.