I posted this question on the bath forum, but it is probably better suited here. I have a tiny master bath, but it does feature a full-size fiberglass tub/shower unit. Since neither I nor my husband take baths, we are thinking about remodeling and replacing the tub with an upgraded tiled shower stall. We have three other full baths in the house - including one almost directly across the hall. Our worry is that the change would lower the value of the house when we sell it in the future.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mseadog23,

If it's just for yourselves & you're going to live there for the next 25 years, go ahead with the shower only! Enjoy!!!

But if you're looking toward resale, & want to appeal to the majority of buyers, I'd certainly strongly recommend the tub. (I personally wouldn't buy a house that didn't have a tub in the master, no matter how many other tubs there were in the house.)

I agree, if concidering resale a master bath needs a bath! I rarley take baths and we only have 1 bathroom in this house. but if i had a master bath that would be the one room that I would want a nice comfy tub to relax in.

I understand what you are saying, but this so-called master bathroom is tucked in under the eaves and has only a single sink and tiny vanity. The master closet (if you can honestly call it that) is almost a crawl space off the bathroom. My husband (6'4") cannot stand up in the space. A designer recommended we go to the shower stall as a way to add more closet space. So what do people really want? A closet or bathtub?

Buyers want both closet space and a bath tub. But given a choice, you'll find some buyers that opt for the bigger closet, some that opt for the tub, you won't be able to please everyone so you need to appeal to the broadest range of buyers. I believe the broadest range of buyers want a full bath off the master. I personally wouldn't buy a home without a tub in the master. In some areas of the country if there is not tub in the master it isn't considered a full bath, but rather a 3/4 bath. Whether or not that will impact the resale value of your home in the future, depends on what is the norm for your area.

given your description I may also go w/o the full bath. I have lived in apartments that has a toilet and sink in the master room and that was nice. I think what can fit comfortably in the space is better than trying to cram more than what really fits in it.

Iam disagreeing with the majority here. As a buyer we take showers as do most the people we know. Go with a shower. There is a full bath across the hall. The people I know would not be put off with no tub.

you are not going to be able to appeal to what everyone wants.....So do what makes sense for your lifestyle....I am sure that i am not the only person that wouldn't even consider a house w/ a separate bath...For me, it is a waste of space and extra work to keep clean...For me - i would only want to look at homes that had a tub/shower combo or shower only....

And for all those who want the separate tubs...then homes w/ showers only aren't going to be for them...

As i said on your other post - GO FOR IT!!!! and ENJOY YOUR AWESOME NEW SHOWER!!!!

As with most things, some people want tubs in the master, others do not or have no preference. For every person who insists on it, there will be another who is fine without it.
I HATE mine. I would rather (and we are considering this) remove it and have a large two person shower with benches, etc.
I, like you, would still have additional bathrooms with tubs, so I would only be removing one that NEVER gets used.

I agree if you plan on staying in the house for a long long time then go for it, otherwise keep the tub/shower. If you convert it to just a shower it can no longer be listed as a 2 bath home (or if you have 2.5 baths etc) that master bathroom if it only has a shower will now have to be listed as a 3/4 bath not a full bath which isn't great for resale, alot of people in my development converted their first floor full bath to a half bath and put their washer and dryer in where the shower/tub used to be and now they can no longer list that bath as a full bath etc. Bathrooms with a shower and not a tub can't be listed as a full bath they have to be listed as a 3/4 bathroom.

"If you convert it to just a shower it can no longer be listed as a 2 bath home (or if you have 2.5 baths etc) that master bathroom if it only has a shower will now have to be listed as a 3/4 bath not a full bath which isn't great for resale"


Is that maybe a regional thing? My last home (which sold in 3 weeks) had three baths but the master had only a shower and it was listed as 3 FULL baths...I have never seen a lsiting here that uses 3/4 bath- they are either full (with some form of bathing unit) or 1/2 (no bath/shower).
I am curious...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Tallyann,

It may be a regional thing, but in all areas we lived in ( 6 different states) if a bath had only a shower and no tub it could not be called a full bath it was called a 3/4 bath.

Thanks for all your input. I will check locally and see if swapping the tub for a shower would change the designation. I am not too worried even if it does because I currently have four full baths.

I live and sell real estate in a city of older homes. If the house has a master bath at all, it is often quite small like yours. So, I find that having a master bath at all is more important to my buyers, than having one with a bath tub vs. a shower. HOWEVER, the caveat to this point is that there has to be at least ONE tub in the house. Why? Because if the house is family sized, buyers will want/need a tub to bath the children. So, if you house has only one bathroom, you must have a tub (can have a tub/shower combo). But because you have other bathrooms with tubs in the house, I think you're fine. In fact, I did exactly what you're describing in my own house - have a small master bath; swapped out the tub for a really swanky walk in shower. And, as another poster said, if you plan to be in your house a while - don't sweat it. Do what will make you happy. Don't be a slave to re-sale if re-sale is not an imminent event. Enjoy your home!

Bless you WDC RE.
Thanks!

We CHOSE to only have the larger shower in our new home in the master bath. The reason is we are getting older and thinking to be in this house as long as possible. It will be easier to get in and out of a shower for us. The house we just sold had a shower only in the master bath and the buyer was happy with that. There is a shower over tub in what we called the guest bath.

Chris

Well, as I've posted previously, we took the tub out of our masterbath and installed an enlarged walk-in shower with a bench...we put our house on the market 2 days ago (realtors open house was 2 days ago) and we have had 6 showings since yesterday - our realtor just called us saying that one of the couples is checking into financing and expects to make a bid - apparently having a master with no tub isn't hurting us so far - we'll see .

We only have a shower in our master bath here. In my last house we had a separate tub and separate shower. Think I only used that tub maybe five times in five years. I don't miss it. I don't think it is an issue for most people.