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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

PunjanaTea · 08/03/2017 10:24

It wasn't meant as insulting at all, just an observation. Property shows on TV where they help you sell your house are always going on about it, and rightmove threads nearly always have someone chipping in that they wouldn't buy a house because they don't like the colour of the carpet or the sofa or some other removable feature.

Also I know that the reason many are put off work is lack of funds, I made no mention of the reasons why people are.

I am sometimes a little surprised at what people will dismiss when looking online. I've viewed many, many houses and it's not that unusual for me to think a house is perfect from photos, only to find it doesn't match up in real life. Similarly, some that I've been reluctant to view (including my current house) are actually loads better in real life.

TheOnlyLivingToyInNewYork · 08/03/2017 10:27

Can't yuo just put a bath back in if and when you want to sell?

JustSpeakSense · 08/03/2017 10:32

I wouldn't even view a house without a bath, let alone buy it.

Chickenagain · 08/03/2017 10:32

Just had a lovely bath - first one in about 6 months, but spring has sprung & the legs needed mowing. Had a shower afterwards mind to wash the drek off....

It might put me off a little bit if there was no bath on the buying front, but if I loved the house & location & there was space to put one in, that would be fine.

If you are planning to stay there a few years, do it but make sure you make it easy to reinstall a plain white bath before you sell.

Astoria7974 · 08/03/2017 11:00

PunjanaTea - I don't like fixer uppers. I'm perfectly willing to make do with existing kitchens & bathrooms provided they are to my taste to begin with. It's why I prefer properties in good decorative order. I prefer to get work only when I absolutely have to (ie after I've been living there for a few years). But that's because I work 60 hours per week and dh works full time too, so we don't have time.

Fontella · 08/03/2017 11:10

The first little cottage I bought when I was a single young thing only had a small shower room with no room for a bath anywhere. I missed having one so much. There is nothing like immersing tired achey limbs into hot water, lighting the candles, lying back, reading a book or whatever. Utter bliss.

A shower is fine for up and out, but there is no relaxation element to it at all. You stand, you wash - it can be invigorating yes, but I'd take a bath over a shower any day of the week.

I was so desperate, I actually got hold of an old tin bath and used to have baths in my living room by the fire! I kid you not! Filled with a hosepipe from the kitchen tap, and bailed out with a big old saucepan afterwards. This was back in the early 90s, and I did live in a 300 year old cottage in the wilds of Wales .. so it kind of suited the environment.

Original poster

Harveypuss · 08/08/2017 10:35

Hi all,

Just an update really. I decided in the end to keep the bath and the new bathroom is now all finished. We chose a modern, streamlined design and it looks fabulous! I'm really pleased with the finished result and it actually makes the room look a lot bigger than before. I had a soak in the bath the other day, which I haven't done for years because the previous old bath was a corner bath which I hated and never used apart form the shower over it.

Many thanks for all your opinions & views - it was interesting reading! I'm glad we did keep the bath now. I'm sure the new bathroom will be a selling point, should we ever decide to move in the future!

OP posts:

x2boys · 08/08/2017 10:42

I love a bath I live in a council house so it's beside the point really but I have a bath with just a shower attachment over it ( proper shower not one of those things you attach to the taps ) and love a long soak I rinse my hair in the shower after.

x2boys · 08/08/2017 10:43

AH shit just realised the date

SleepingBooty · 08/08/2017 10:50

We had this dilemma when we redid our bathroom. We decided on a shower cubicle and a small corner bath. Both get used as we have young DCs.

SomewhatIdiosyncratic · 08/08/2017 10:52

Happy bathing!

shirleythefamilyguy · 08/08/2017 11:16

Well if you only had a corner bath before that explains why you were asking! Hope you enjoy many more delightful long soaks in the future. Good call imo.

Sharl2017 · 08/08/2017 11:33

I bought a house with a beautiful walk-in shower... we eventually ripped out the shower and fitted a bath because of my own personal preference. You need to make your house how you want it as you're the ones living there.
I wanted to buy the house.. adding a bath isn't a big deal and I'm sure any potential buyers in the future would agree.

mydogisthebest · 08/08/2017 11:37

I'd buy a house without a bath - in fact me and DH just have.

I can't believe how many people wouldn't consider it. Almost everyone I know only showers. Baths are such a waste of time and space.

The house we have bought (we didn't knock the price down at all) has just an ordinary small shower cubicle but we are going to put in a large walk in one.

I hate showers over baths and won't even stay in a hotel that has that arrangement

ShatnersWig · 08/08/2017 11:43

I would never buy a property without a bath. When I was last looking, didn't matter how fabulous the place was - no bath, I'm not buying. One, because I love a soak every Sunday night as a relaxing time at the end of the week and two, because I genuinely believe it is easier to sell a property that comes with a bath room rather than just a shower room.

Oddly enough, friend on Facebook has just moved property. They bought a place with only a shower three years ago as they thought they wouldn't miss having a bath. New place has a bath and they used it that weekend and said they really missed it.

fartsinbed · 08/08/2017 11:45

As a general rule, men like showers and women seem to like their baths. A bit bonkers really as you need to shower after a bath anyway. Some women may consider the absence of a bath a deal breaker.

shirleythefamilyguy · 08/08/2017 12:26

(unless the bath has gone cold and I need warming up before getting out)

juicemum · 08/08/2017 12:34

We only have a shower room, kids have never minded either. We have Just sold our house and never had any comments about no bath. Go for it!

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