Removing Bath - House prices effect

ajfy2k

Hello,

Hope this is in the right place,

I'm re-modelling my house and and getting close to sorting the bathroom out. I am considering removing my bath and replacing with a nice big walk-in shower. It been years since I have actually had a bath so it makes sense for me.

Now I know not everyone is the same and while I have no intention of selling my home circumstances change and I would not like to do anything that would reduce the value or make it harder to sell (especially if needed to sell in the current environment).

My house is a 1980's two bed terrace in a nice part of Chester, the estate isn't that popular with families as there aren't many big houses (most are 1/2 bed with a handful of 3's) but there are a few small families.

Here's the first floor plans showing the bathroom.
http://content.zoopla.co.uk/a2d85994a79628e4eba82b3bd6b2b64e67f0256d.jpg

the two thirds closest to the toilet would have a glass screen with the last third being the entrance.

What do people think? would I be making my house harder to sell should the need arise? Would especially like to hear off any estate agents out there?

Thanks

Ash

hazyjo

Well, I'd say do what suits you and worry about selling it when the time comes. Take pics now so you can say a bath did once fit in!

Personally, I wouldn't touch a house that only had a shower as I like a bath. If it did only have a shower, I would probably consider it if the existing shower suite needed replacing. I'd then put a bath in. I'd be loathe to replace a snazzy new shower with a bath though so would avoid.

Been a few threads on this with varying opinions so might be worth trying to search...

You will always alienate a percentage of people. Same as you would if you only had a bath with no shower at all.

Can't please everyone all of the time, so my attitude is please yourself!

Jx

[Deleted User]

If you are not planning to sell in the near future, go ahead and enjoy your walk-in shower (I have one too). But be prepared to put off many Buyers when you come to sell.

Welsh_Totster

If you have no plans to move then do what would make your life easiest. We remodelled our main bathroom last year and knocked the wc into the bathroom to make one lovely large room. We dont bathe therefore have no need for a bath. So we fitted a really large oversized walk in shower instead which for us is bloomin lovely. The ensuite also has a shower. We don't use a bath so why have one gathering dust? If we were to sell then the shower can be taken out and a bath put in its place, when we had the bathroom refitted we had the whole room tiled floor to ceiling even behind the cabinetry, so if anyone wanted to reconfigure or put a bath in then it would be easy with minimal fuss.

So I'm one of the few who say, if you dont bathe and prefer showering then go for it, just fit a knock yer socks off shower in, after all you're the one living there, not some prospective maybe buyer in 10 years time!

Sandhy

As previously said, if you're not planning to move then do what suits you.

It might put some people off one day but in the meantime you can please yourself :j

Personally I am a shower person and can safely say I haven't had a bath this century! :rotfl:

My daughter however, likes to have a long soak in the bath with a glass of wine and candles around the sides.

If you make it a stunning bathroom 'to die for' it would help the future resale.

Although anyone with babies or toddlers would want a bath though.

GAH

I echo the above, do what you feel best and enjoy it while living there.

When coming to sell, it does come down to peoples preferences, and although showers are much more widely used the baths, people do still want to see a bath in a home.

cattie

I'm also in agreement about doing what suits you best. When I moved into my house, which had quite a small cramped bathroom (seperate wc), I decided I would prefer it to be a shower room, as I never take baths. I didn't see the sense in living with something I didn't really want just in case I wanted to sell in the future, even though I know that a lot of families like to have a bathroom with a bath

Now I am toying with the idea of selling later this year to downsize & have had just one valuation to date. And I mentioned to EA that I knew just having a shower room might limit interest in my house. I told him I would be willing to have the shower enclosure removed & the room turned back into a bathroom again if it would be likely to help sell my house. However, his reply was that he wouldn't bother and that lots of people were happy with just a shower these days.

I will be having another valuation soon with a different EA & will ask the same question to them & see what they say. But if they too say to leave things as they are, I think I'd be inclined to market my house as it is with a shower room & if I found it was a stumbling block with potential buyers, then I'd go ahead & have it turned back into a bathoom again.

Obviously when I move, a shower room or shower enclosure will be far more appealing to me than a room with only a bath in it.

puddy

im a shower person and probably only have a bath once a month, if that, however i would NEVER have a bathroom with only a shower in it.

firstly theres always something that needs doing in the bath, whether its washing the dog, or whatever, secondly i like the option

it wouldnt put me off a house if there was only a shower but i would expect to knock the relevant amount off for the inconvenience and price of installing a new bathroom

Lovelyjoolz

I bought a house last autumn and discovered that a lot of properties in my area only have shower rooms, so you are by no means unusual!

Personally, I HAVE to have a bath, so I didn't even view properties without one (the hassle of fitting a new bathroon as soon as I moved in just didn't appeal to me). If others are of the same mind as me, this will reduce the interest in your property. But, this will only be of concern to you when and if you ever decide to sell.

I echo all the previous posters. This is YOUR house and you must have it in the style that suits your lifestyle. If you want an absolutley kick-a$$ shower then go for. Have the best you can afford and wallow in the sheer pleasure of having something so fabulous to scrub down in. :rotfl:

P.S. - will it be big enough for two?

Lovelyjoolz

puddy wrote: »

firstly theres always something that needs doing in the bath,

Said the actress to the bishop ...

puddy wrote: »

whether its washing the dog, or whatever

Ah yes - the OTHER uses for baths - like washing my super-king duvets (put in bath of hot soapy water and pretend to tread grapes for half an hour!) or OH's big, puffy parka.

ajfy2k

cattie wrote: »

I'm also in agreement about doing what suits you best. When I moved into my house, which had quite a small cramped bathroom (seperate wc), I decided I would prefer it to be a shower room, as I never take baths. I didn't see the sense in living with something I didn't really want just in case I wanted to sell in the future, even though I know that a lot of families like to have a bathroom with a bath

Now I am toying with the idea of selling later this year to downsize & have had just one valuation to date. And I mentioned to EA that I knew just having a shower room might limit interest in my house. I told him I would be willing to have the shower enclosure removed & the room turned back into a bathroom again if it would be likely to help sell my house. However, his reply was that he wouldn't bother and that lots of people were happy with just a shower these days.

I will be having another valuation soon with a different EA & will ask the same question to them & see what they say. But if they too say to leave things as they are, I think I'd be inclined to market my house as it is with a shower room & if I found it was a stumbling block with potential buyers, then I'd go ahead & have it turned back into a bathoom again.

Obviously when I move, a shower room or shower enclosure will be far more appealing to me than a room with only a bath in it.

Thats reassuring, please update this post after your next valuation if you can,

Thanks,