Landlord Products / Services
Darren asks,
My wife and I are thinking of re doing our bathroom, it isn’t very big and we are thinking of taking the bath out and just having a shower cubicle… do you think this would reduce the value of the property?
Darren
Essentially, how would the value of a property would be affected if he decided to replace his bath with a shower cubicle?
Good question.
The Situation
I made an assumption that the property Darren is referring to is a small property with only 1 bathroom. So provide my opinion based on that specific scenario.
While there are many potential reasons why someone may want to replace their bath with a shower cubicle, one of the main reasons is that it creates space. In this day and age, it’s not uncommon for a bath to be an absolute item in a household, showers are simply more convenient. If that’s the case, that’s a lot of wasted space on an item that does not get any use.
Bathrooms are valuable
Bathrooms are extremely valuable; they do have potential to add or reduce value to the overall property, so it’s important to get them right.
Many people put great importance into a bathroom, especially because it’s one of the most expensive rooms in a house to refurbish (kitchen typically being the most expensive). Additionally, in a family market, extra bathrooms can add significant value.
Know your target market
Before making any decisions, you need to know what kind of market your property will appeal to when selling.
For example, small properties are more likely to appeal to couples, first-time buyers and investors, consequently eliminating the family audience. Above all, a bathroom needs to be practical, so when considering value, you need to consider what type of buyer will you be attracting and what you think they will expect from their living space.
Essentially, I don’t think the value of the property will be affected if a bath is missing in smaller properties, but you do run a risk of limiting your market.
Quality of the bathroom is likely to be more important!
While replacing the bath with a shower cubicle may not affect the value for young couples and investors, it’s imperative to always finish the bathroom to a high standard, because that will definitely affect the value of the property.
So no matter what you decide to do, plan the space well and finish it with quality. At the end of the day, when we’re discussing a small house with a small bathroom, quality will more often not play a bigger role in desirability.
Ask your estate agent
If you’re really unsure about what to do and are concerned about the value of your property, you can consult your local estate agent for further insight.
Your agent should know the local market, consequently be aware of a) what type of people are likely to be interested in your property b) what features they look for.
What would I do?
If there’s enough space to fit a bath, like there obviously is in Darren’s case, then I would first look at the bathroom suites available for the space I have available.
While a standard sized suite may make the space look cramped, there are plenty of suites designed for smaller bathrooms. These suites are designed for small space – they don’t physically occupy as much space as standard suites – and everything looks in proportion.
Suites like these are generally more costly, since they’re somewhat custom, but they’re definitely worth it. So I would get a custom suite that provides a bath, which can also be used as shower cubicle. That way I get the best of both worlds.
If I don’t have the budget for a custom suite, and I have a small bathroom which is being cramped by a bath, and I know more valuable space would be created for practical living if removed, then I would definitely go with the shower.
Extra Tips for small bathrooms
- For a small bathroom, you may have to consider your choice of colour carefully, as it can impact the feeling of space within the room. The natural light that comes into a smaller room is likely to be limited. Try using lighter tones and colours to give the illusion of extra space.
- Making use of wall hung fittings will help save much space and give a much more modern feel, but make sure you keep it simple and don’t overcrowd the walls.
- No matter how small or large your bathroom is, make sure the finish is to a high standard. A large, poorly finished bathroom won’t be as valuable as a small well-finished bathroom.
- When you’re limited for space, less is more. Only put in the essentials, and don’t overcrowd the floor space
Disclaimer: I'm just a landlord blogger; I'm 100% not qualified to give legal or financial advice. I'm a doofus. Any information I share is my unqualified opinion, and should never be construed as professional legal or financial advice. You should definitely get advice from a qualified professional for any legal or financial matters. For more information, please read my full disclaimer.
Nice article. Personally I wouldn't ever buy a property that didn't have a bath and only had a shower, although I would (and have) rented one. That said, I've only rented one when I've not been able to afford more; people are less willing to make a long-term committment to a compromise like that.
And I live on my own and have no children to bath, and actually hate using a bath. But right now my shower is broken, and if I'd bought a place with no bath, I'd have been totally stuffed.