How important is a bath when you're looking at new houses?

[Anonymousmummmy]

Hi Everyone! We have a 2 bed house with decent sized rooms, but a very small bathroom. It currently has a bath in it with a shower over the top and it's super super cramped

I'm looking to refurb the bathroom at some point and I'm really unsure what to do; I'd ideally like to change the bath for a shower which would free up more space in there, however I'm wondering if having no bath in a house would put off buyers in the future?

I also have a toddler and we're planning on having more children in the future so not ideal but I only had a shower in my previous flat and used one of those foldable baths (it was a pretty decent size) to bathe him and it was fine.

I would like to do a loft conversion at some point to create a third bedroom but I'm not sure if I'd put an ensuite in there as it significantly increases the cost of doing the conversion.

We don't want to stay here forever - we would probably look to move at some point in the future but it wouldn't be any time super soon. I would really like everything I do to the house to make a profit for us so trying to plan carefully around these things.

Would love to know your opinions.

Thanks so much!!

One of the first things we’ve done on our houses is change doors on small rooms to open outwards. Makes a huge difference to a small bathroom!

Houses do sell without baths, but a lot of people want a bath and either don’t have the imagination to envisage one, or don’t want the hassle of putting one in, so it will limit your buyers. That isn’t necessarily an issue - depends on how desirable your place is otherwise.

I wouldn't expect a bath but I would definitely want space for one in at least one of the upstairs bathrooms. Definitely no shower over bath - spacious walk in only

As someone who has small children bath is essential; recently have been looking at houses and I wouldn't even view without a bath.
I know putting one in after is def an option, but for us too much hassle after moving with young children.
The bath for me personally is not essential, but for children yes.

I oscillate almost weekly about taking out the bath in my (only) downstairs bathroom. There's an over bath shower and no room for ANY storage because of the airing cupboard and I'd love just a walk in shower, which would also future proof my place for the day that slinging my leg over to climb into the bath for a shower (I never have baths) becomes too difficult.

But I did get a quote of £4.5k to take the bath out and make the corner a shower unit, mainly because the entire room is tiled, so I decided to stick with the bath a bit longer. But, ideally, I'd get shot of it and have proper storage.

Large family house, has shower rooms, no bath. Very occasionally my teen will say they would like a bath & I wouldn't mind one once in a while, but although one room would fit a bath, we all really take showers mostly so it hasn't really been an issue in the last 7 years.
We obviously knew before we bought it and it didn't put us off.
I'd leave it as it is, as am sure next buyer will happily rip it out and pop a walk in shower in if that's what they want. Most people expect to do improvements to their own tastes when buying a house I think.

Change the bathroom door to open out so you have more useable space.

Also can put the shower in front of the window with etched/ pearled glass.

@Anonymousmummmy many people looking at 2 beds will bypass your house if they have toddlers. toddlers are easier plonked in a bath. i know of one house 3 bed which only had a shower room and it took nearly a year to sell. that was at the time of a buyers market!!!

This.

Same here- we all have showers. Baths are so draining to me. Could happily live with never having a bath ever again

When we were buying a house it was a must for me, we were renting a flat with just a shower.

The novelty wore off pretty quickly and I can't tell you when I last had a bath. But we do use it to bathe the baby and I'm not sure if I could be brothered with the faff of a collapsible bath every time so I would say make sure there's a hand shower too which can be brought down to shower a small child.

Your bathroom is bigger than mine (I have a separate toilet); 66” x 52”, just big enough for a bath and washbasin, shower over the bath.
I wouldn’t buy a house without a bath, I love long soaks with a book 😊

@LightFull Sorry I should have added - I'm definitely refurbing the bathroom either way as I bought this house to make a (hopefully big) profit (same as my last place). Kitchen is being completely re-done soon, wall down downstairs, exposed brick pillars, new parquet flooring throughout, already done the front door, lighting, ceilings, going to replace the patio and stairs outside, add a pergola, replace the lean-to, and adding a loft conversion; so some big projects. I'm just deciding whether or not to add a shower or bath in when refurbing the bathroom to make the max about of profit basically as I don't want to limit buyers. The house isn't in a bad condition at all but the aim is for it to be pretty top of the market in the area for the size of the property.

Make a wet room. I don't think a bath is essential. Elderly and disabled people can't use them. Nobody really 'needs' one unless they just like it BC it's what they grew up with it are used to.

The first thing I did in my current house is rip out the bath as I hate baths - I now have an amazing huge walk in shower, with a hand held shower attachment. You can't have a proper wash in a bath! And they keep going cold.

I have a wee swimming pool people could chuck their kids in!!

No bath would make me think twice as I enjoy a bath once a week or so, even though I shower most mornings.

If you've got a young family or health issues, then a bath probably is more attractive. Having said that, it's very common abroad to just have a shower.

I'm now in my early 50s and never have a bath.

If you've got a little one, having shower head that can be handled is good so you can direct water over head towards the back and on body.

I'd be fine with no bath. Kids only know what they know. But if you'd be marketing it towards families, I think it's safer to keep the bath.

A bath is a must for me but I bought my house with just a shower. The first thing I did was renovate the bathroom to add a bath.

For me very , I like a good soak .
If there isn't a bath I'd want space to put one in .

It wouldn’t put my off the right house, I’d just add one.

I Bath daily so I would want a bath in my house

For me it would be essential, I have a bath every day. I’d never buy a house without a bath.

Exactly this. We had a walk in shower. At the time the female kids were into baths. So we got a bath put in..... Now no one wants a bath!

Is it a full size bath? Our family bathroom here has a 1500mm bath as a full size one won't fit. Shower over. It's fine.
I did manage to fit a full size bath (with shower over) in the loft en suite (already built but no bath) as my teen DD wanted one. The builders couldn't believe it but I designed it within millimetres tolerance!
So yes - you need a bath. A friend who took her bath out has recently put it back as all her kids asked for it!

could you compromise and have a shower and a deep style Japanese bath (I saw a house where someone had done this and it looked amazing)
https://www.aquaticabath.co.uk/category/japanese-bathtubs?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Aquatica_ROW_UK-Bathtubs-Search&utm_term=japanese%20bathtubs&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAA9XejejXy1Y8_eHRVumTdNHs4wLvq&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh7K1BhCZARIsAKOrVqGmYKxVIe0yK3dfJGpsF5kORH4hBVfUKpYu-u5MIToB4Vuo5KPlCrkaAnmZEALw_wcB