The key takeaway is there's no definitive proof of any significant difference between a bath and a shower when it comes to resale value. If you want to hedge your bets and you're not on a tight budget, adding a shower to a bathtub might be the optimal solution.
Real estate professionals also agree that bathtubs are attractive to homeowners with children (and even those with pets). If your home has at least one bathtub when it's time to sell you will likely attract a larger group of prospective buyers, which could net you a larger profit.
The short answer is, it depends. Understanding the potential buyer of your home is key. If your neighborhood attracts many young families, removing the tub could indeed lower your home's resale value. However, there are situations where this might not be a significant concern.
“There absolutely has to be at least one bathtub in any condo or home. When you sell, you're also selling a lifestyle and having no tub will hinder a sale to most buyers,” she says. Research backs up the anecdotal evidence.
Will not having a bath affect the value of your home? Having a bath may not affect the value of your house, although if space is available, it is a preferred feature to have and therefore, it could make selling harder. Baths are desired for a number of reasons, but particularly for families with young children.
Versatility: If you're set on the idea of a bathtub but are working with limited space, a shower-over-bathtub design could give you the best of both worlds. It's great for families with small children and offers more privacy than a regular shower with a glass screen, as you can easily install a shower curtain.
Well, it certainly could do – especially if your house is a family home, as potential buyers will likely expect at least one family bathroom with a bath. Even if adding a bath doesn't increase your home's value, it will certainly improve its saleability by appealing to a bigger pool of buyers.
Many younger homeowners are opting for shower-only bathrooms, valuing the time and space savings over the option to soak in a tub. Additionally, the trend toward smaller, more urban homes with limited bathroom space means that showers often win out.
In fact, for every dollar spent on adding a walk-in shower, the increase in home value can average $1.71, a return that's hard to ignore. Despite their appeal, walk-in showers can also present challenges. A bathroom equipped solely with a walk-in shower and no tub is labeled a three-quarter bath.
There is no code that requires a bathtub in a residential home.
According to a recent survey, only 23 percent of homeowners actually use their bathtubs on a regular basis. This means that the vast majority of bathrooms have tubs that just take up space. If you aren't using your bathtub, you can have it removed and give yourself a bigger and more comfortable bathroom.
Today, even if you bathe alone, you won't get as clean as you would with a good shower. On the other hand, the tub is a more reliable site for stress and pain reduction. Perhaps this last note explains the results of QS Supplies' latest study, in which we found that the world overwhelmingly prefers baths to showers.
If you're looking for a way to update your bathroom, replacing your bath with a shower is a great option. Showers are more efficient than baths, so they can help you save water and money on your energy bills. They're also easier to clean, and they can be a great way to add a touch of luxury to your bathroom.
Bathroom Updates for Resale Value
In general, removing a tub and installing a well-appointed walk-in shower also increases the value of a home.
Showering daily would come to $64.54 per year per person and using the bath daily would be $195.68 per year per person, approximately three times more expensive.
Replacing a bathtub with a shower can potentially devalue your house, especially if it is your only bathtub and most comparable homes have them. But a luxurious or spacious shower or a bathroom designed for families with young children can lessen the impact.
According to recent data, homes with at least one tub tend to sell for more money than those with showers – and the difference can be quite pronounced in some parts of the country. Keep in mind, though, that this is just one factor among many that you'll need to consider when making this decision.
Other times, your home's value can be reduced by things out of your control, such as messy neighbors, nearby foreclosures, power lines, natural disasters, your local real estate market, or the overall economy.
This favors most families as they find it easier to bathe their children in a bathtub rather than a shower. Bathtubs are becoming a hot-selling point in the real-estate market since luxury homebuyers view them as required showpieces for a master bath.
Although not as popular among adults, bathtubs are still the most effective way to bathe young kids and pets. For young families, a bathtub is practically a necessity. Most children younger than 8 have a difficult time using a shower. In addition, baths are much more efficient when cleaning up multiple kids at once.
Increasingly, homeowners are getting rid of their tubs for lavish, high-end showers. Small spaces and homes owned by millennials and kid-free adults are particularly more apt to agree with the bathtub becoming obsolete. They simply ditch the tub.
But a plain and simple bathroom is a great starting-off position. Get it clean: First and foremost, the bathroom must be clean. There is no way you will make a positive statement if the grout is discoloured and the sealant is mouldy. Add some colour: Look at the current trends for colours and wallpapers.
Some people find it more hygienic to have a shower, rather than sitting in bathwater. But a hot bath can also be excellent for reducing stress and soaking aching muscles. So, it's ultimately down to personal preference.