In our opinion, the answer to the question “Do I need a bathtub in my house” is simple — only if you want one. When making design decisions about your home, the right choices enhance your lifestyle. It is your house, so anything you decide to renovate should improve your daily living, from your basement to your kitchen to your bathroom. If you don’t want a bathtub, why put one in?
So, instead of asking, ‘Do I need a bathtub in my house,’ you should ask, ‘Do I want a bathtub in my house?’ And in order to answer that question, consider the following:
How do you prefer to bathe?
Do you prefer a quick shower in the morning before work? How about after an evening workout before heading out to dinner? Why climb into a tub when a stand-alone shower is far more convenient.
Or, do you prefer a long soak after a hectic day at work? Maybe you rarely take showers, instead preferring the leisurely pace of a bath. Then a tub is probably a better choice for you.
If the answer is ‘yes’ to both questions, and you have limited space, then a tub/shower combo might be the right solution. And if you have room—then put in both! But only if you want both.
Are you bathing kids and dogs?
As anyone with kids knows, a bathtub is the primary way to clean them. Ditto for Fido. So for some people, having a tub is essential.
However, if you’re not scrubbing kids or dogs, and you yourself don’t relish a bath, why put a bathtub in your house?
How many bathrooms do you have in your house?
Some houses (and condos) only have one bathroom. If you prefer to shower, why put a tub in your only bathroom?
Young professionals without kids own the Little Prescott House. They did not want a tub in their one and only bathroom—they wanted the ease of a walk-in shower. No tub suits their lifestyle perfectly.
Do you want to age in place?
For those looking to age in place, bathtubs with grab bars may come to mind. However, walk-in showers are the better choice. They improve accessibility with no curb or tub lip to maneuver over. Wheelchairs and walkers can roll right in. Furthermore, bench seats and handheld shower heads allow for easy bathing, allowing homeowners to maintain independence. You can’t do that with a tub. We have remodeled many bathrooms with the exclusive goal of aging in place.
Worried about resale without a bathtub in your house?
Believe us, there are other people out there just like you who also don’t want a bathtub in their house. We’ve met them. They beg us to remove the large, built-in soaking tubs used for everything besides soaking. Honestly, our bathroom renovations include more tubs coming out than going in. And we’ve done A LOT of bathroom renovations.
At our Eastmoreland Remodel, the owners purchased the house with a bathtub in both bathrooms. And they promptly called us and asked us to remove both! For their primary bathroom, they wanted the convenience and spaciousness of a walk-in shower. And their teenage children prefer to shower, so a tub wasn’t needed for the kids’ bathroom either. In addition, the shower in the kids’ bathroom improves accessibility when grandparents visit.
See, you’re not alone in not wanting a bathtub in your house. This means there are plenty of other people out there who will buy your house.
Don’t believe us? Listen to a real estate agent.
According to our friend and trusted real estate resource, Wick Ashley of Ashley Realty Works, buyer preferences vary. He considers the tub/no tub preference part of a home buyer’s priority list, along with things such as a corner lot, having a park across the street, and having curbs and sidewalks. “These items are preferred by some buyers, but rarely all. A tub falls in that category. You may attract less buyers, but they will still compete heavily for your home.”
Ashley finds buyers with young families will pass on a house without a tub. However, young professionals, empty nesters, or those downsizing will pay more for a house with no tub.
Instead of debating the “do I need a bathtub in my house” question, focus on what really matters to potential buyers. Ashley says those items include “a pleasant kitchen, clean bathrooms, neutral finishes, fresh paint throughout the home and landscaping—not a tub.”
Stop worrying about the bathtub.
Life is too short to worry about bathtubs, especially if a hot shower will make your day. Design decisions in the best interest of you and your family are the right decisions.
At CA, we love exploring bathroom renovation options and we welcome the opportunity to help you decide—tub in or out! Call us.