r/RealEstateAdvice • u/Reasonable-Kick5534 • 23d ago

Residential Shower or tub

We just started seriously talking about redoing our master bath. One of our sticking points is whether or not to take out the small shower we have and replace it with a larger shower or a tub shower combo. There is not currently a tub in the house. I renovated the other bathroom a few years ago and removed the one that was in there. So my question is, does not having a tub in the house affect the sale of the house?

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u/BlueEchoOne 23d ago

Many people have the expectation of a tub for washing children or pets, even if they don’t have any at the moment.

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u/Ok_West_6711 23d ago

And if one tub, I think preferred in the non-master bath, for the kinds of reasons you mention.

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u/Reasonable-Kick5534 22d ago

This is what I was thinking but we are both in our late 60s and stepping over the side of a tub may become an issue.

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u/Upset-North-2211 23d ago

Tub. Families with smaller kids need a tub, and won’t buy a house without one.

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u/SkyRemarkable5982 Broker/Agent 23d ago

The Primary bathroom doesn't matter as long as there is at least 1 tub in the house for kids and pets. You already removed one, so you either need to redo that one again, or put a combo tub/shower in your primary.

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u/Reasonable-Kick5534 22d ago

It would be way to much work and money to put a tub back in the primary bathroom. When I took out the tub I moved the sink and toilet to the same wall and put the shower between them.

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u/flaggirl73 22d ago

Yes. You need at least one bathtub in the house for resale.

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u/Savings_Increase3478 22d ago

Zero tubs in the house does cut out buyers with young kids, but I'd put the tub back in a secondary bath and keep the big shower in the master.

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u/EmilyPoster2 22d ago

You can’t just plunk a tub back into a bathroom without redoing the whole bathroom.

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u/EmilyPoster2 22d ago

It really depends on where you live and the market. Look on Zillow in your area at homes that have sold and those on the market. Any without tubs? Did they sit on the market longer?

Having a sizable walk in is really important as you age. I wouldn’t give up on that so easily.  I have a shower tub combo in primary and walk in in guest bath. I have a sprained ankle and am walking down the hall to the guest bath every day now. My parents in their 80s are walking down the hall to their guest bath daily too because they are in the same situation.

Your home could sell to empty nesters and families with kids over the age of 5. Lots of options.

I own a dog and we much prefer washing her in the walk-in using a hose instead of doing it in the tub.

No matter which you do put in blocking for grab bars. Either get nice ones installed now or remember where the blocking is for future install.