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Original poster

How important is a bath?

67 replies

MrsPatrickDempsey · 10/04/2021 23:43

Main bathroom of our home needs renovation. It currently has a smallish bath - the only one in the house. We have an en-suite and cloakroom with no room to fit a bath. We are contemplating replacing the bath with a large walk in shower. It suits our needs as we are not bath people but I wonder whether we may encounter problems selling if we ever move. DH says as this isn't on the cards we should just replace the bath. Thoughts please?

OP posts:
MixedUpFiles · 11/04/2021 00:25

I’m one of those people that regularly uses my large soaking tub. I have always had homes with baths and would be so sad to be forced to have one without. I take them all the time.

WeekendCEO · 11/04/2021 00:33

None of our bathrooms have a bath in, just lovely big showers. I don’t know anyone who baths regularly, most people I know shower as it’s quicker and uses less water.
And if you don’t plan on moving anytime soon, the house needs to suit your needs, not those of a potential buyer.

Itsokthanks · 11/04/2021 00:43

Not important to me at all. We don't have one anymore and I've noticed more houses coming on the market without them. I do think I'd still want one if I had younger kids though.

MajorNeville · 11/04/2021 00:44

My parents had their bath taken out, their shower is to die for. I like a bath every few weeks, it's nice but not having one wouldn't put me off a house.

HarkAVagrant · 11/04/2021 00:47

I would not buy a house with no bath. I’d rather have a bath than a shower. Our current house has a bath with shower over the bath, as did our last flat.

Silkiescat · 11/04/2021 02:18

It would be an essential for us. I do rule houses out based on it especially if no obvious space for a bath unless the house is very special / good value. But if it works for you and you have no plans to sell soon then would go for it. Some people will be happy with just a shower and you don't need everyone to buy your house though it will limit its appeal a bit.

womanity · 11/04/2021 02:22

It depends a bit on the property; in a four bed house I’d expect a bath, ina two bed flat, I wouldn’t.

But unless you’re planning on selling soon, do what suits you.

GreyhoundG1rl · 11/04/2021 02:24

Well this thread is going differently to all previous one's I've seen Shock
I think baths are pretty non essential myself, but I've been shouted down so many times and was once told I understood nothing about property values 🤪

Time40 · 11/04/2021 03:01

I wouldn't buy a house without a bath, but it wouldn't bother me if it didn't have a shower.

Yellownotblue · 11/04/2021 03:04

I’m renovating my house and removing baths to make room for walk in showers. We’re simply not a bath family.

We’re not planning to move for years. As and when we market the house back, I’m prepared to turn back a shower room into a bathroom.

YukoandHiro · 11/04/2021 03:07

You won't be able to sell it to anyone with children under about 12.

But that's it really

sarahc336 · 11/04/2021 03:49

Well as a mum of two young children I can't imagine how I'd wash them without a bath so for a young family house it's pretty essential, not sure I fancy trying to shower the 5 month old 😂 xx

BluebellsGreenbells · 11/04/2021 03:56

I’m 50 and wouldn’t buy a house without a bath. It was essential when the kids were little and even now the teens still like a bath.

GeorgiaGirl52 · 11/04/2021 04:20

My en-suite had a large shower and a walk-in tub. For 14 years I used the shower daily and used the tub maybe twice (my granddaughter liked to play in it when she visited). Then I broke my ankle and I couldn't walk for three months. The only way I could bathe at all was to wrap my leg in plastic, sit in the tub and use the hand sprayer. I still cannot stand long enough to get a proper shower and it has been a year. Don't know what I would have done without that tub.

thismeansnothing · 11/04/2021 04:49

Not essential for me.

Me and DH bought our house 11/12 years ago and the bathroom had just been redone but minus a bath (And carpeted. But please. Let's not go there 😬). We have managed just fine. Now have DD9 and DD2 and they used a baby bath and then strait to the big walk in shower.

There's room for a bath but I didn't have the time nor inclination to put one in.

We've recently sold and no one mentioned it as a reason they were put off.

Andthenanothercupoftea · 11/04/2021 06:08

House hunting here - bath is on my list, but so is just "space for a bath" - I'm not averse to doing some work on a property.

wetwiped · 11/04/2021 06:18

I personally favour a bath over a shower and no bath would put me off a property unless I intended/was able to put one in.

Persipan · 11/04/2021 06:35

So long as it was really obvious that you could fit a bath in if you wanted and it was just something you'd chosen not to have, I wouldn't be wildly put off - I don't see swapping a massive shower cubicle for a bath as that big a deal. If it looked like you only had a shower because a shower was the only thing that would fit in the bathroom, I'd be less keen.

FoolsAssassin · 11/04/2021 06:36

Our bathroom isn’t used currently as we have 2 showers elsewhere so not important to us.

In your position I would do the shower but factor in cost of putting in Bath when the time comes to move as part of moving costs like stamp duty and solicitors fees. It wouldn’t cost a fortune in the grand scheme of moving and could be the difference between the cost of several solicitors fees that we had recently when getting quotes.

That way you get the use from it but don’t cut down your market when you move and it wouldn’t take long to do either.

daisyducky · 11/04/2021 06:39

A bath isn't essential if you have toddlers or small children. We don't have one. We used the kitchen sink when the kids were tiny, then a shnuggle on the floor of the bathroom and then they use the shower too from about 14 months. We have a wet room really but it's definitely not necessary for small kids.

I actually used the shnuggle bath on the draining board in the kitchen. Helps your back with not having to hunch over the bath!

Springchickpea · 11/04/2021 06:40

We moved into this house when kids were 3&5. It did have two baths but they were very old and revolting so we didn’t use them at all. We did install a bath later but that was because we had space. We only have one bath, it’s rarely used and in the other room we prioritised a large walk in shower. So I think it’s only really very small children where it is essential.

Pogmaasal · 11/04/2021 06:48

Ive never been a bath person but just recently due to health issues having a bath has been essential for us. Also when dc were small we used it daily

Oblomov21 · 11/04/2021 06:51

Essential to me.
It would be too for anyone with young children.
I just think it devalues your house if you don't have one. It's an expected norm.

mermaidsariel · 11/04/2021 06:53

Our current house does not have a bath and nowhere to put one. I really regret it. Although I prefer showers there are times I long for a bath.

glasshalfsomething · 11/04/2021 06:54

Not all young families want a bath. Ours was ripped out when I was pregnant for a large shower. Coped fine with a baby in the baby bath who then transferred to the shower as soon as she could stand firmly in it with me.

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