We're remodeling a home and plan to sell it. The original owners put in a big soaking tub and a small corner shower in the master bath. The house is two-story and there's a tub/shower combo in the upstairs bath. We never use a tub and the shower is way too small, so we're thinking of eliminating the tub and building a larger walk-in shower. One realtor told us he's seen houses not sell just because they didn't have a bathtub. Your thoughts? Thanks.

I wouldn't buy a house without a tub. As a matter of fact, one of the biggest selling points on my current home was the whirlpool tub.

Could you put in a regular sized tub/shower combination?

Showers are nice just to keep ones self clean but there is nothing like a good soak at the end of the day for what ails you.

Just ask my wife. We don't use it much but sure nice when you need it.

I think a large soaking tub is a better selling point that a walk-in shower. I like showers, but WoW is correct. There is no replacement for a good, long, hot bath, and the large tub has other advantages, too.

quote:

Originally posted by DorianGreyed:
I think a large soaking tub is a better selling point that a walk-in shower. I like showers, but WoW is correct. There is no replacement for a good, long, hot bath, and the large tub has other advantages, too.

Yes a large tub does have other advantages, far easier to wash the Black Lab in a bath tub than the kitchen sink. Though the kitchen sink worked well for bathing cats.......

I build homes and see many people ditch the whirlpool tub for a larger shower. A large shower is a great selling point. Add in a really nice rain shower head and some body sprays and you have a selling point that far far outweighs the fact that you don't have a tub. Most people shower and don't bathe except on rare occasions. Put in a steam unit and you'll have an even better selling point.

The reality is that people feel they have to have a tub and the previous responders represent a group of people that feel passionately about tubs... but many more people feel passionately about a really nice shower. I can't tell you how many customers I have that have NEVER used their tub after 2 years. And also - it's going to be your house for awhile, make it into what you want and do it really well. As long as the craftsmanship is good and the design is very nice, your shower will be a good selling point.

Perhaps you should think of it this way - if all the houses around have tubs and small showers and you are the one that has a kick butt shower... you will have a selling point with the folks that walk in and think - this house doesn't have that crappy corner shower. People have to use the shower every single day and if it stinks then it will be a negative. Hardly a single man alive (except those responding above who are clearly freaks of nature) takes baths. I have never built a home for a man that has ever used the tub if they put it in... they generally put in really nice showers and their homes sell just like all the others.

The Mrs. and I are in the housing market; a home we will likely offer on has a large whirlpool and a small shower. We plan to rip both out an install a large tile shower with a bench seat.

I live in a house that is almost 100 years old...It was once a single family home (they had 12 children), but in the 50's it was made into three apartments.

I am fortunate enough to live on the top floor, that used to be the area where all the kids' bedrooms were way back when (used to be 6 bedrooms). A 7-foot long claw foot soaking tub was installed during building (which weighes something like a ton!) which is STILL there. Back in the 50's, the upper floor was remodeled so it could be an apartment, and a little room on the end was added to the bathroom so a shower could be installed.

I admit...I mostly use just the shower. But every now and then, I take the 1/2 hour it takes to fill this wonderful tub! In my entire life I have never had a tub that I could submerge myself in...from head to toe, without my knees sticking out!

Although I don't indulge often, I know that I would always enjoy having the option of a tub AND a shower....especially when the tub can accommodate two