Bathtub vs Shower

[md0u812a]

I am a new home owner and was planning on fitting a wet room in the bathroom and remove the bath tub. Will this decrease the value of my house? Thanks.

[spacechimp]

I think most people want at least one bath, but I'm no expert.

[Ethel]

All the experts on the property programmes say keep at least one bath.

But if you are planning to live there for many years you should have your home to suit your needs and style and forget about potential selling figures.

[Buenchico]

I doubt that your plans would directly reduce the value of your home but they might make the house far harder to sell which could have an indirect effect on the price. A few figures make this easier to explain:

If the house is worth, say, �150K , with a bath, it's probably still worth around �150K with only a shower. The problem is that you might sell it within a couple of months with a bath, whereas you might have to wait six months to find a buyer (at the same price) with just a shower. This is fine if you're not in a hurry to sell but, if you need a quick sale, you might find it necessary to drop the price by, say, �15K to find a buyer prepared to overlook the absence of a bath.

Chris

[jedimistress]

My personal opinion is that I would never buy a house without a bath. If I see shower room, but no bath, I don't consider it.

From discussions with friends I don't think I am alone with this opinion.

I'm not sure about the value, but can see how it may put off potential buyers.

[waimarie]

There seems to be a strange fetish about wallowing in mucky bath water. I haven't had a bath in over forty years and removed the bath in our house to instal a large corner shower. If and when we sell, it is relatively cheap to reinstal(?) a bath although, as most people seem to rip out the previous owners efforts anyway, I do not imagine it to be a major difficulty.

If we travel, it is no problem to book rooms with shower rather than bath. In the meantime at home we have a lovely spacious room uncluttered by a Victorian piece of furniture (bath). I do understand they are useful for keeping coal in though.

[SteveD]

I think the point is that, if the potential buyers of a house have young children, they will want a bath.

[gammaray]

Fit both! then you get the best of both worlds.

[lou100]

Personally it wouldn't put me off. As somebody has already said previously people often buy houses then install their own bathroom suites. I did that last year, and installed a bath and shower, I really wish now I hadn't bothered with the bath. (used it half a dozen times at the most)

I think also it depends on your property, if it is a family home then yes possibly you should have a bath, however if like me you live in a small 1 bedroom flat which you would never class as a family home then I think you could maybe get away with a wet room - just my thoughts, go with what you think and want....