To bath or not to bath..... New bathroom question

[TheNinthLock]

We are having the bathroom in our 3 bed semi replaced. It is your typical 3 bed with two double bedrooms and a small single.
Some might say, the typical home a young family with small children may buy. (Our children are young adults, one on the cusp of moving out, one returning from uni this summer, dh and I are mid 50s, none of us bathe, we all shower)

We would love to replace the bath with a walk-in shower. But due to selling in a number of years, we were advised by friends and family to keep the bath as it would help with selling. (Due to the property being the type purchased by young families) So we reconciled ourselves with the idea of a bath.

So, long story short, had the builder round today who said " Half the people would prefer a bath, the other half a walk-in shower. Put it what you want, not what may sell, it needs to work for you for the next 3-5 years"

So, is my builder right? Shall we have a nice walk-in shower? Or should we stick to a bath with shower over?

Just go for what suits you best. We got ride of our bath and only have showers, both in en suite and family bathroom.

I had a similar dilemma, my view is go for the shower! My bath is only used to water plants.

We're in the process of designing a total replacement of our main bathroom and we've decided to get rid of the bath. It's a big room and currently has a bath and separate corner shower, but we're going to put a big walk-in shower where the bath currently is. We've been in the house for a year and have never used the bath, and we never used the one in our previous house either. We figure that if and when we sell, if someone really wants the house they won't not buy it because of a bath (or lack thereof!).

If it's a walk in/wet room style it would be very easy to add a bath under the shower at a later date (ensure plumbing is accessible behind tiles)

It's so easy to buy small foldable baths for young children if needed, and most baby baths work in showers (shower off when bathing obvs)

Do what suits you and let the next buyers do the same. The space will always be there for a bath to be put back in.

My parents decided to replace their bath with a shower over with just a walk in shower, but they have no plans to move. My mum
had a hip replacement and found climbing in and out of the bath difficult.

I definitely agree that you should do what suits you best for the next few years, but ensure that the configuration allows a bath to be reinstated at a later date- that way you can reassure any future buyers that that the bath can be replaced at a later date.

Your builder is dead right. I'd prefer a proper walk in shower every time and so would many other people including older people and anyone with mobility problems.

If you have space, you might also install a very small bath which would work for bathing children or for an adult to sit up in, like a Japanese one.

No bath.

I absolutely love baths, yet just bought a place without one. I loved the overall place more than I needed a bath right now plus there is clearly the option to change the walk in to a bath. I would only probably not have bought if the bathroom was too small for a bath and there would never be the option to change it.
I'd actually prefer a bath and walk in shower but definitely not enough to alter my price range, area, type of home.
I've also just sold my parents' home with a walk in and no one even commented on it and it had many viewings, although tbf the whole home needed updating including the bathroom anyway - again room for a bath if required.
I'd do what works for you - it's your home to enjoy, not just a pending investment for the next house. It's also IMO not a dealbreaker at all as long as it clearly has the option. I can manage without a bath as it has worked out this way, but I definitely wouldn't change a bath for a shower to hope someone preferred it years down the line, if it worked that way around, I'd prefer to enjoy my home my way.

Spoke with dh and the response was 'woohoo' when I said the view was overwhelming in favour of shower. (Not that we need MN approval, but we are cautious people and overthink most things) Thank you :)

So, builder is doing a design and quote. He has given us the name of his plumbing merchant for us to have a look at showers / taps / basins etc.

Exciting!!

We did exactly the same. Never used the bath had a shower over so took out the bath and put in a shower tray the size and in same space as the bath. Tiled to the ceiling. To put a bath back in would be an easy job as would just need to take out shower tray and put in a bath then the shower would be over the bath

You never know when yous appreciate a bath. I wouldn't buy a family house without one.

Thanks all. We have decided to go for the shower. But the plumbing will remain unchanged so any new buyer would be able to take out shower and replace with bath in exact same location.

I like a bath. But if you are there for at least another 3 years and you all like showers then put in the shower. The person buying may or may not like baths. But it's your home and you have to live in it now.

Whoever buys it will probably put their own in anyway. Go for a shower.

I'd go for the shower, but have the bathroom designed so that a bath could be easily retrofitted for when you sell it. As is happens, I far prefer a shower to a bath and would happily buy a house with just a shower, but according to the estate agents that I spoke to, most people want a bath (albeit with a shower over).

We are currently buying a house where the bathroom has been done in the last couple of years but we need a bath for baby so will have to get one put in. It’s a beautiful bathroom and so new it’s a real shame to have to be changing it. Please keep the bath for your future buyers who might not have budget to change it.

I think do what's best for you. You couldn't pay me to buy a house without a bath, but my DH hasn't has a bath in years!

We agonised a bit about this in our family bathroom (ensuite has a bath) and decided in the end to get a "bath replacement" shower tray. Basically it makes it very easy for anyone who moved in and preferred a bath as all the plumbing is in the right place so they just remove the shower tray and screen, replace it with a bath and panel. Builder said it was a 1 day job to do.

This is what our seller has done. I don’t suppose you got any indication of cost for the 1 day job? Had completely mixed estimates from people I’ve asked and we aren’t moved in yet to get a proper quote.

That's daft to suggest the OP should keep a bath she doesn't want for years, or maybe forever, just in case she sells in the future to someone who might want a bath and might have bought a house so expensive for them that they can't afford to stick a bath back in!

I'm afraid I don't as I wasn't looking for a current quote - it would depend on things like whether there is a shower screen to take out as well.

I agree with this. When I buy a house, it is mainly for the size, location, proximity to schools, amenities and transport links.
The rest I can sort out once I own the place.
So on that basis we are fitting a walk in shower.
The house is in a desirable location and should sell quickly when the time comes.
If the perfect buyer comes along and the stumbling block is the lack of a bath, I am sure we can come to some sort of agreement should we need to.

it easy to say you don't use a bath but no one knows what's around the corner. I love my bath now but have a chronic long term pain condition that a bath really helps me. I had a house with a huge walk in shower hated it it was cold and draughty and hard to clean. if you have the space for both then I would put it in