Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Original poster

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

78 replies

Anonymousmummmy · 02/08/2024 15:57

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!!

OP posts:

leeverarch · 02/08/2024 18:32

I would not buy a house without a bath.

Tupster · 02/08/2024 18:35

I like a bath, but totally understand lots of people don't and prefer a big shower. But size is key here - I think if you take the bath out completely, you need to replace it with a proper big, luxury type shower. If you take the bath out and replace with a skimpy sized shower, that's massively unappealing and would be a deal-breaker for buying somewhere for me, whereas a good shower I could live with - or it would be a cheap and easy fix to swap out for a bath.
The loft conversion I'd say is a major no-no to have no bathroom facilities on that floor. People can cope without en-suites, even if they prefer them, but to have to go to another floor entirely just to use the loo at night is unacceptable to most.

Hibernatalie · 02/08/2024 18:44

I wouldn't buy a house without a bath.

Sethera · 02/08/2024 18:48

It's the first thing I check! Won't buy without a bath. I know in theory I could get one put in if there is space, but I don't want the hassle or the weeks/months having to put up with a shower. I hate showers because my eyesight is poor and I have to grope around for things like shampoo and I can't relax standing up. If I'm in a hotel with only a shower I often end up sitting on the floor of it and taking the hose down.

StripedPiggy · 02/08/2024 18:50

It wouldn’t be. We much prefer a walk-in shower room.

BrightLightTonight · 02/08/2024 18:52

Firstly, this is your home, so you need to make it comfortable for you now. If and when you come to sell it, assure buyers that there is room for a bath, and do some investigating about the cost of putting one back, then when they offer you £10k less to replace the bath you can say “actually, it will only cost £1k”

MrsBreeze · 02/08/2024 19:06

Dh & I used to have an apartment without a bath, we never missed one...until dc 1 was born. Bath times were so awkward & I used to get back ache from hunching over the portable little bathtub in the tiny shower.

We eventually bought a house with a bath, dc 2 arrived not long after and oh my, it’s wonderful to be able to bathe both dcs at the same time in a proper tub, I can sit on a stool & there’s room for dh to pull up a stool too. It’s way more practical.

So, long story short - if we were ever looking to move again, I would definitely want a tub.

PerkyMintDeer · 02/08/2024 19:10

It depends on budget...I would want a bath, so if it wasn't possible to install one ever due to size for example, it would be a no. If there's room in the budget and space for me to install one without having to rip out the entire bathroom, I'd probably be fine with it.

If there were two very similar properties at the same price and one had a bath and the other didn't, I'd choose the property with the bath.

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 02/08/2024 19:11

It's not hard to put a bath back in. I wouldn't worry too much. When you come to sell, tell your potential buyers it had a bath.

1983Louise · 02/08/2024 19:30

Can you change you door to.open.outwards, we did this in a very small bathroom, it made a big difference.

startstopengine · 02/08/2024 19:32

100% bath

MrsDoylesLastTeabag · 02/08/2024 19:40

To me personally no space for a bath would be a deal-breaker, as a long soak in a tub in the evening is the only way I can relieve my joint pain (lupus), but everyone has very different preferences/ needs, obviously. If there's room for a bath but no bath present, I wouldn't discount a house I otherwise loved, as I'd be happy to remodel a bathroom.

Ozanj · 02/08/2024 19:45

I personally prefer luxurious walk in showers. They’re easier with babies and kids imo as you avoid the ‘wallowing in their own poo’ part if they have an accident. You can also leave kids unsupervised in them when they’re older - it’s a lifeline with ds who is 4

ClonedSquare · 02/08/2024 19:57

I wouldn't buy a house that didn't have a bath. We have a toddler so it's a necessity for the foreseeable future.

If it were just my husband and I (with no children planned) I'd consider a house without a bath but if I were torn between two houses I liked equally, I'd always choose the one with a bath.

BarbedButterfly · 02/08/2024 19:58

We wouldn't consider it as we both bath every day rather than shower

Lonelycrab · 02/08/2024 20:00

moderately, but if room dimension doesn’t prohibit it in the future, not that much.

Pixiedust1234 · 02/08/2024 20:09

I have ignored every single house without a bath. I want a bath with a shower over it for two reasons. I like to have a soak because of medical conditions and I struggle not to bang my elbows in shower cubicles as there is never enough room.

I could have offered on so many houses but they didn't have a bath. Pity.

PleaseletitbeSpring · 02/08/2024 20:13

I wouldn't view a house without a bath. I have a shower over the bath so the best of both worlds.

muddyford · 02/08/2024 20:16

I've not had a bath for decades. Always shower. Next time I move I'll be looking for a wet room.

SD1978 · 02/08/2024 20:56

Everyone expects one, no one with a kid over the age of about 5 ever bloody uses one.....but it has to be there 🤣

Gertrudetheadelie · 02/08/2024 21:02

We have two children 5 and under and we replaced our bath with a beautiful big shower. We did occasionally use the old bath but it took ages to fill and it seemed stupid to keep something for a hypothetical buyer when we all wanted/we're happy with a really good shower! Bathroom is so much nicer now and the kids are fine so it isn't 'essential' if it isn't what you, who live there, actually want.

Blondeshavemorefun · 02/08/2024 21:13

A bath is essential.

I love to wallow and makes easier to clean /bath kids

My friend only had a bath and no room for a shower attachment as sloping.

She does miss a shower

So ideally both is good

Change door to open towards hall

SquigglePigs · 02/08/2024 21:47

Years ago it wouldn't have bothered us. We had a rented house for a few years that just had a shower and it was a nice big one and we were more than happy with that.

Now we have a small child I think a bath is more of a must-have.

Perhaps it depends a bit what you think your target market would be on resale?

Mousefoot · 02/08/2024 21:53

I think in a family home, it will put buyers off.

I very rarely have a bath, but the house would have to be spectacular for me to buy without a bath. Occasionally, when you're ill or injured a bath is necessary, even if it's not your usual preference.

ShanequaAndWhat · 02/08/2024 22:02

I don't have a bath unless I'm on deaths door but I wouldn't buy a house without one.

A 2 bed is a starter home usually so someone with a small kid. Small kids have baths. My DD spends hours in the bath when she has one. It's too restricting to not to have one.

Flip

1 2 3 4

Swipe left for the next trending thread