Do buyers prefer a bath or shower?

HB58

We have been in our current property for some years. The bathroom is small and we, like many others, have an over-bath shower as there is not room for both a bath and freestanding shower.

I am now becoming less able and it is difficult for me to climb into the bath. We are weighing up our options which include moving elsewhere or taking out the bath from our current property and installing a walk-in shower instead. We will still need to move at a later date, I expect.

However, I am concerned that having only a shower would deter potential buyers when we do come to sell. It is a 3 bed semi and, as such, I would expect it to appeal for those with a young family. When our son was small I was adamant that I wanted a bath, rather than a shower but I wonder whether the thinking has changed in recent years?

Mr HB had an informal chat with an AE who said it wouldn't make any difference, but I am not convinced!

What are your thoughts? Would you be happy to buy a similar property with just a shower or would you prefer a bath (or vice verse)? What sort of price adjustment would you expect if you wanted a property but it didn't have the bathing facilities of your choice?

Emmzi

A very wise friend of mine said to me "make the choices before you have to, when you feel it is a choice". I have an illness that may or may not make my mobility worse, but this house move, I have been making everything low maintenance (no lawn to mow, downstairs loo etc) so I could stay here if I chose to with limited adaptations.

So my answer is "bath" but also if you think you are likely to need to move why not start looking now, when you have plenty time to consider what the best place for you is?

19lottie82

Personally I wouldn't buy a house without a bath unless I REALLY liked it and it wouldn't be too difficult to put one in. It could definitely be a swaying factor. I think it might put families with young kids off, too.

dibuzz

It would put me off as my daughter still prefers a bath to a shower

HB58

Emmzi wrote: »

A very wise friend of mine said to me "make the choices before you have to, when you feel it is a choice". I have an illness that may or may not make my mobility worse, but this house move, I have been making everything low maintenance (no lawn to mow, downstairs loo etc) so I could stay here if I chose to with limited adaptations.

So my answer is "bath" but also if you think you are likely to need to move why not start looking now, when you have plenty time to consider what the best place for you is?

I am ready to start doing this, but Mr HB is digging his heels in! He says he is not ready to think about 'retirement' properties just yet. The truth is that he is having difficulty coming to terms with both his increasing age (he's 61) and my reduced abilites.

tulipz

I prefer having both. If I absolutely love the propery and the bathroom is small, Ill be fine with a shower cubicle. We are a busy family and shower is an absolute must for us. It'll be a pain to wash children though....

StartingAgainKayla70

If your not going to move I would change to whatever suits you. However if you were to put your property up for sale and it was a shower only I like another money saver would only buy the property if I really liked it and could afford to put a bath back in.

We bought out property without a bath and I have 3 children, but because the property was a bit cheaper than what we were going to buy we could afford to put the bath back in.

stinkybeard

We are looking for a house at the moment and I can honestly say, that having only a shower is off putting for us. We are staying with relatives and they only have a shower - this is a pain when you have a toddler to wash! Even before staying at our current location, houses without baths were less appealing, more so now.

Having said that, as others have said, if everything else was perfect and there was room to put a bath in we'd probably consider it!

jc808

Emmzi wrote: »

A very wise friend of mine said to me "make the choices before you have to, when you feel it is a choice".

G_M

We are in exactly this position with our mum. We've decided, with her:

* moving at her age is stressful. Famiarity with current home is important. New bungalow in right area is hard to find
* so we are going to make current home as comfortable for her as possible, to allow her to stay as long a spossible.
* we are ignoring future buyer's preferences. Some will prefer bath. Some shower. Some may rip out bathroom and build extension
* so we are getting quotes for stair lift (£2K ish). Sge does not need /want it yet, but it's good to know it is doable in the future and at what price.
* and we are ripping out the bath and installing a walk-in shower, with hand rails

Mum will stay in her home of 30 years, and will be able to manage for a considerable further period (fingers crossed). That is far more important than trying to second guess future potential buyers.

Barneysmom

Unless it was absolutely necessary I wouldn't take the bath out.
There may be other solutions, have you looked into getting a bath step?
Also get in touch with social services about an assessment, they might be able to provide you with a good solution, they've given us an electric rechargable raise/lower chair on permanent loan for my hubby.