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Original poster

To get rid of my bath

168 replies

Harveypuss · 05/03/2017 12:44

Posting here for traffic really.

We have decided to revamp the main bathroom in our house. We also have two small shower rooms in the house, which are used regularly.

We are considering ripping out the bath (with shower overhead) and replacing it with a large walk-in shower. It would look great, I'm sure and nobody in our family (us & two teenage kids) ever use the bath. I think the last time the bath was used was when our kids were babies.

However, I've had people tell me having no bath in the house at all would cause problems if we wanted to sell the house in the future (no plans currently, but you never know).

I'm now questioning my decision. What do you think? Do any of you only have showers in your properties? My husband thinks we should just go with it and doesn't see the point in paying out for a revamp and installing a bath that will just not get used, whereas a large walk-in shower would.

Would welcome your views! Many thanks.

OP posts:
SleepFreeZone · 05/03/2017 22:06

I wouldn't buy a house without a bath either i hate showering.

Iamastonished · 05/03/2017 22:28

"I'm pretty shocked at all these people who say they would never buy a house without a bath! You could get a lovely one put back in for £1000-1500 inc tiling, it's not a massive deal."

Erm, yes it is. All the walls in our bathroom are tiled. When we had new shower doors put in I enquired about the cost of a new bathroom. I was quoted about £5k because ripping out the old bath/loo/wash basin would mean that the tiles would be damaged and have to be replaced.

Some people who buy a house just don't want the expense and hassle of having a new bathroom installed. Or even if it is just a bath it usually means that the rest of the sanitaryware has to be bought to match the bath. I don't think it is ever just a case of buying a bath, ripping out the shower and replacing it.

If I was given the choice of bath or shower I would opr for a shower as 99% of the time we all shower, but I still enjoy the occasional bath so would never get rid of ours.

KarmaNoMore · 05/03/2017 22:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlefrog3 · 05/03/2017 22:33

Tricky one. I would like a bath (if I was looking to buy,) but it wouldn't be a dealbreaker tbh. It may be for some though.

We once had a house for sale that didn't have an actual fireplace (just an electric fire plugged in IYSWIM,) and a prospective buyer loved the house, but said not having a proper fireplace put her off it. Just that one thing. Weird (IMO,) but at the same time, this one thing of yours (having no bath potentially) could put a buyer off.

Xoticdreamz · 05/03/2017 22:36

I need a bath, it would completely prevent me from buying a house. If I'm on holiday and the room/ apartment is without a bath I ask for a move .
I really don't enjoy a shower the same.

GreenPetal94 · 05/03/2017 22:47

I bought a large house without a bath. Noone else was interested and I got it cheap.

feckitt · 05/03/2017 22:49

Do whatever you want to do. Don't involve us.

MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 05/03/2017 22:53

It's your house. Make it nice for you.

If and when you want to sell get the bath put back in.

I think you're overthinking this one. It always seems a shame to me when people live with compromises and things that don't work or only spend the money before they sell and never get the benefit themselves. Please yourself - it's your house!

blueskyinmarch · 05/03/2017 22:54

I would buy a house with a bath. My house has two baths and I have never been in either. DH on the other hand would hate a house without a bath.

Tartyflette · 05/03/2017 22:56

We never used our bath at all, even though it had spa jets, so about four years ago we ripped it out and installed a big walk-in power shower with a rainforest top bit plus multi-function movable bit too -- it's absolute bliss. Lots of room for two (or more) Blush
We also have another downstairs shower room.
We're thinking of moving in the near future and just had an EA round to value the house -- he didn't think it would be any problem at all that the house had no bath. (but the Boston ivy on the outside, however, was apparently Not A Good Thing )

Tartyflette · 05/03/2017 22:59

Karma, that was our reasoning too, and I think the EA thought the same.

ShowMePotatoSalad · 05/03/2017 23:03

I would buy a house without a bath either.

KoolKoala07 · 05/03/2017 23:06

I bought a property with just a shower, occasionaly I miss having a bath. We do intend to put one back in, in the future as we are expecting our first child. It's not a big problem and it certainly wouldn't put me off buying a house. When buying, I personally appreciate the things in a property you can't really change like off road parking.

stonecircle · 05/03/2017 23:10

We had a really long bath in our main bathroom which was great when the kids were little, but it gradually stopped being used. So we replaced it with a big walk in shower (much nicer) and put a small bath with a shower over it in our en suite. It really is a small bath but it's there if anyone feels the need for a soak (probably once a year). Would you have room to put a small bath in one of your shower rooms op?

Totally amazed by people saying they wouldn't buy a house without a bath! Easy enough to have one put back in.

maxybrown · 05/03/2017 23:11

We currently rent but are hoping to buy the house (landlord is selling). It has a huge walk in shower and a bath but the bath is just a dust collector and drives me nuts. We never use it and I begrudge cleaning it. It's a very small cottage so the bath going would free up some much needed storage space.

A few years ago I would have thought no bath would put me off but now not at all. The way I see it is unless.you are planning on moving, you can only live in the now. For that is all we have-not so do what YOU want, not what might sell a house. It's not like you're saying you fancy having no roof.

ExplodedCloud · 05/03/2017 23:18

I'd want the space to put a bath back in. We did look at one house years ago where they'd moved a wall meaning there was no space for a bath at all. That was an instant no.

Scottishchick39 · 05/03/2017 23:20

I'm an estate agent and a lot of people won't look at houses with no bath, I think it's ridiculous as it's not hard to put a bath in a property if you want one.

Moresaltedcaramel · 05/03/2017 23:21

Ive used our shower maybe twice in 10 years. Bath everyday (twice today!) I would not want a house without a bath.

Tardigrade001 · 05/03/2017 23:25

Go for it, a proper shower is much nicer than a bath!

minnymoobear · 05/03/2017 23:36

Just had our bathroom done and moved the boiler to make space for a shower and bath. We don't use it much but did want one and teenage DS Uses it most after sports matches. We were stuck for a while as I wanted big shower and DH wanted practical bath with shower above - I won :)
Right decision for us so you have to do so what suits you and your family

aintnothinbutagstring · 05/03/2017 23:54

If you have no intention of selling, do it. I dream of a walk in shower with one of those big raindance shower heads. My children, since old enough to stand, have always had showers.

madcatwoman61 · 06/03/2017 00:14

I have just done exactly that - I live on my own and hate baths - now have a lovely big luxurious shower, and a third bedroom. If I ever sell, they can always convert back, meanwhile I have a home that works for me. A home is for living in

Werkzallhourz · 06/03/2017 00:29

Measure up the room and speak to a proper bathroom fitter, not someone who just deals with bathroom sales.

It is surprising just what you can fit in a bathroom if you go with certain fittings. We were told by nearly everyone that we had to decide between a walk in shower and no bath or a power shower over a bath.

Until a local joiner came to look and showed us how we could get a huge walk in shower in the room with a bath if we used a joint toilet and sink unit, so long as we changed the layout of the room.

Our bathroom isn't big either (it's a typical 3-bed postwar-semi bathroom). I suspect some places argue you can't have both because they want to sell you expensive, large sinks, toilets and bath/shower units, and don't get the bonus of the increased plumbing costs to move the room layout around a bit.

So if I were you, I'd measure up and make a plan on paper. See just what you can get in the room first if you jiggle things round a bit.

FrancisCrawford · 06/03/2017 06:49

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

dudsville · 06/03/2017 06:53

It's your home, make it how you like it! I'm surprised that the absence of a bath would stop viewings. The two times I've bought I knew the bathrooms would be totally refurbished.