Does Replacing a Bath With a Shower Decrease Your Home Value?
Bathtub Refinishing News: Does Replacing a Bath With a Shower Decrease Your Home Value?
When it comes to bathroom remodeling, you’ll likely get a good return on your investment. If you decide to replace a bathtub with a shower, however, in real estate terms that changes the bathroom from a full bath with a toilet, tub and shower, to a three-quarter bath. How that change will impact your home’s value will depend upon on several factors.
Bathroom Renovations are Popular
According to a 2012 survey conducted by the National Association of Home Builders, bathrooms are the most popular remodeling project in the United States. In most cases, remodeling the bathroom is a good investment. Each year, "Remodeling Magazine" analyzes the construction costs of leading home improvement projects and compares them to the costs recovered at resale. In 2013, the magazine's Cost vs. Value report showed that a mid-range, full bathroom remodel returned 62.5 percent of the $15,782 investment. Looking for a quicker, more affordable way to get that new bathroom? Then bathtub refinishing & tile refinishing is the answer.
Value vs. Convenience
Return on investment is an important factor to consider before eliminating a bathtub. But if you have a need for a shower and you plan to live in the house for some time, getting a good return on your investment when you sell may not be as important as having that convenience right now. Whether you need more space for comfort and storage, or if someone in the family has difficulty using a tub, sometimes need trumps financial value.
Before You Take the Plunge
Replacing the tub with a shower in the only bathroom is riskier than switching from tub to shower in a second or third bathroom. Eliminating a home's only full bathroom could turn off potential buyers. Many parents prefer to bathe children in a tub rather than a shower; many buyers like to soak in a tub. The National Association of Realtors says as long as the home has at least one tub, switching from a tub to a shower shouldn't negatively impact resale value.
What Buyers Want
According to a 2013 survey conducted by NAHB to determine what home buyers want, 51 percent of respondents said they did not want a master bath with only a shower stall; 81 percent of respondents said they wanted a full bath on the main level, with 45 percent of them considering the main level essential or must-have. However, the days of the massive whirlpool bath are coming to an end regardless of bathroom location, according to Regents Renovation in Atlanta, GA. The remodeling company says it is now renovating more of its clients' bathrooms with inviting showers. The spa shower is becoming increasingly popular.
