Do You Need a Bath in a Bathroom?

timthetoolman on 16/05/2017 - 21:10

In a small 3 bed 1 bath house, would you keep the bath if doing a bathroom reno, or remove it to make more room?
This house is currently for a young couple with no kids in the distant future which may use a bath once a year

Pros- Room for a bigger shower + vanity
That's really about it !

Cons- Obviously don't have a bath
May affect the resale value/ limit the buying market.

Has anyone removed their bath and loved/hated it, has anyone kept it and wished they removed it?
Would love any advice.

Thank you

Poll Options

  • 93
    Keep bath
  • 44
    Remove bath
Home & Garden

Comments

  • poboy on 16/05/2017 - 21:22
    +19

    A family buyer wants a bath. Hell there are times I need a relaxing bath.

    • Scrooge McDuck on 17/05/2017 - 11:04

      Do you live in Sydney?

      Plenty of bathhouses here…

      • Yummy on 18/05/2017 - 17:38

        You mean Parramatta river? :P

    • Jackson on 18/05/2017 - 20:51
      +1

      Don't bother reading past this first comment, whether renting or selling you are limiting your clientele if you don't have one. There isn't anything that you can replace it with that makes more sense so this idea of removing the bath is a complete non starter

  • Savas on 16/05/2017 - 21:32
    +13

    No, I have mine in the kitchen.

    • BuyoTheCat on 16/05/2017 - 23:04
      +1

      a big cauldron?

    • Max999 on 18/05/2017 - 15:34
      +1

      Can do this if you work in KFC.

  • John Kimble on 16/05/2017 - 21:36
    +1

    This house is currently for a young couple with no kids in the distant future which may use a bath once a year

    Do you mean "near future"?

    If you take it away, I argue you need to replace it with something of more value. Is a bigger shower + vanity considered more value? Some would say yes, some would say no.

    I think it depends on the space, but generally I personally wouldn't get rid of a bath unless the bathroom was tiny and you need space.

    Also, you would then need to call it a showerroom or bathlessroom. That's just weird.

    • timthetoolman on 16/05/2017 - 22:14

      I do indeed mean near, thank you.
      It is a small bathroom so the room could be better used for a larger shower that is used every day. Can also get it done quite cheap.
      The name thing could become a large issue, might need another pole for what it would be called.

  • spackbace on 16/05/2017 - 21:41
    +18

    Even a small family needs/wants a bath for baby/young kids.

    You'd basically be saying that a 3 bedroom house is only for couples, no kids allowed.

    Kinda stupid for a 3 bedroom… Maybe a 1 or 2 bedroom, but not 3.

    • timthetoolman on 16/05/2017 - 22:19

      At what age do kids start taking showers normally? Could just mean people with very young kids wouldn't be interested/ would have to install a bath.
      We would have a shower head with hand held attachment, could always shower kids in the shower with that.

      • John Kimble on 16/05/2017 - 22:29
        +3

        Most babies/toddlers hate water over their face/heads and dangerous for them to stand, so no, shower even with hand attachment not a preferred option. Maybe for older kids… 5 and over at a guess?

        A young family could make do with a portable plastic baby bath I suppose, but that would be a big compromise over an actual bath I suspect?

        We actually bath our 17 month old in a plastic baby bath we place into the bathtub… Saves time filling and water/heating etc

        • Scrooge McDuck on 17/05/2017 - 11:12
          +3

          Real OzBargainers bathe their kids in a wheelie bin:

          OzBathBin

        • syousef on 18/05/2017 - 14:40
          +3

          Over 5? Do you have kids or are you just making this up?

          Our kids have been having showers since maybe age 2 1/2. They have to be old enough to understand not to stand up until they can manage. Sitting in a shower is totally acceptable. Btw the bath is just as dangerous if not more so as it is even more slippery without tiles. Bath mats and shower mats are a must!

        • John Kimble on 18/05/2017 - 15:04
          +1

          @syousef: I only have a 17 month old and a shower over bathtub.

          I was saying 5 in terms of guessing when they would be happy enough to have water over their face/head, not standing up. Although I feel bathtub is safer for standing because they have a side to hold onto compared to a shower.

          I'm sure it's different for every kid.

          I did say "at a guess"!

        • syousef on 18/05/2017 - 15:25

          @John Kimble:

          Ok fair enough. They do work out how to avoid water over the face. Always have to be watchful that they don't slip though.

  • Godric on 16/05/2017 - 21:43
    -1

    Soaking in a pool of your own filth, ew yeah no you don't need it unless you have youngins

    • John Kimble on 16/05/2017 - 21:45
      +2

      You can always shower beforehand.

    • try2bhelpful on 17/05/2017 - 14:30

      Not sure what you are doing in the bath, but I'm not sure I'd even let you near my shower? Sometimes a good soaking bath is a good thing - particularly if you come in cold and wet from sport, etc.

  • airal3rt on 16/05/2017 - 21:54
    +5

    I'm 6'5" so I would kill for a bath I can fit in

  • xssive on 16/05/2017 - 21:54
    +5

    Investment Property or owner occupier?

    Investment - your closing down the number of prospective tenants.

    Owner occupier - it's your property, make it yours. When it is time to resell, the right person will see past no bathtub, or add one in if they wanted it.

    • timthetoolman on 16/05/2017 - 22:11
      +1

      That was my thought, and owner.

  • SteveBuscemi on 16/05/2017 - 21:59
    +1

    Wife+I moved into a new place without a bath and don't miss it. Room itself seems bigger. YMMV.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2017 - 22:24
    +2

    i have a double bath, i wash myself and my wife at the same time.

    • John Kimble on 16/05/2017 - 22:30

      Whilst simultaneously getting dirrty somehow

      • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2017 - 22:43

        Well I'm always dirty!

        • John Kimble on 16/05/2017 - 22:45
          +2

          Dirty <> Dirrty. Wink wink. Haven't you heard that Christina Aguilera song?

        • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2017 - 22:47

          @John Kimble:
          Who?
          What song?
          I don't listen to trash.

    • syousef on 18/05/2017 - 14:42
      +2

      I'm here to clean ze wife.

  • altomic on 16/05/2017 - 23:16

    Do you need a kitch in the Kitchen?

    • spackbace on 16/05/2017 - 23:18

      Bikies

      • [Deactivated] on 16/05/2017 - 23:23

        Bikies don't bathe.

        • spackbace on 16/05/2017 - 23:29

          How do you know?

        • [Deactivated] on 17/05/2017 - 01:10

          @Spackbace:
          😏😏

  • MeesusEff on 16/05/2017 - 23:59

    haha, only reason i keep the bath is so i can put all my 'wear again later' clothes over it, hate putting clothes on the floor!

    • macrocephalic on 17/05/2017 - 09:44

      I use mine as a laundry basket. We also wash the dogs in it (although they seem to prefer the shower). A bath also makes a good impromptu light tent for product photography in a pinch.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 17/05/2017 - 11:19
        +8

        And if you live in Sydney, you can place a blanket in it and rent it out to an international student.

  • Marcsie on 17/05/2017 - 00:20
    +1

    You may not need it, but the future buyer of your house may want it, unless you want to stay in your house for ever :)

  • Strahany on 17/05/2017 - 01:07
    +2

    If you really badly want a bigger shower then no one is stopping you. But how big does a shower need to be? You need to stand under the flow of water, so having a massive amount of free space is redundant as it will not be used. It seems like your gain is mostly novelty in nature whilst removing the bath will have very real repercussions on potential ease of resale and/or resale value.

    Right now you might not see yourself moving, but you never know what could happen; maybe you move for a dream job, or find your dream home on the cheap, or unfortunately need to downsize to free equity. Whatever the reason, if you don't have the bath in this scenario, then it may mean you have to bear the cost of the new owner reinstalling by proxy (lower offer) or it may take longer to sell (which may force you to drop the price, too).

    • Deridas on 17/05/2017 - 09:01
      +1

      Like tuzii, we need to wash us and our wives at the same time, thus a larger shower. Saving water bills the Ozbargain way ;)

      • Scrooge McDuck on 17/05/2017 - 11:29
        +2

        Also, women need space for a gazillion shampoo bottles and other… products.

        It's also nice to have elbow (and leg) room to be able to hit different angles.

    • eyeballz2770 on 17/05/2017 - 10:14
      +1

      I think there will always be buyers with "showers-only" preferences. We moved into a house with a water heater that didn't store enough water to take a bath with; the bathtub is one of the old-fashioned huge ones and it was ridiculous not being able to soak in it. So, we haven't had a bath for 19 years and only used the shower. I wasn't a bath lover in the first place, but even my husband hasn't missed the bath much.

  • jjjaar on 17/05/2017 - 08:11

    I know young parents with no bath and a large shower. They just place a child bath in the shower, they find it easier. They do frequently visit their parents to use the "real" bath, but don't think it matters too much. So if you stay there and have kids, you have a solution.

    • John Kimble on 17/05/2017 - 08:31

      Yeah, I'm sure there are plenty of examples like that.

      I suppose the argument is though, if there were two identical places one without a bath and one with, then you would think in most cases the young family will choose the place with a bath.

      I know the chances of this situation might be slim and it is very simplistic example as there are so many other factors, but it's just to demonstrate the thought process.

      • jjjaar on 17/05/2017 - 13:26

        This is true.

        Though the argument could also be, if there were two identical places one without a bath and one with, then you would think in most cases the retirement aged and elderly people would choose the place with the large shower where rails and a bath seat could be put in, which also doesn't require physically climbing into the bath.

        • John Kimble on 17/05/2017 - 13:32

          Yeah, I guess there is no correct answer and no way to know for sure the numbers (I guess that's the point of the poll).

          The only other thing I was thinking the OP could do is contact a few real estate agents and get their take on it given they have experience in the area. But not sure if they will give out free anecdotal details like that.

        • jjjaar on 17/05/2017 - 13:37

          @John Kimble: They actually might give out that information, if you skew it differently. Go to an open for inspection of one with a shower room and ask how it sells in the area haha. Though I think cold calling agents couldn't hurt. worst they could do is hassle you for your details and keep trying to make you sell. Just don't give them an address…

        • John Kimble on 17/05/2017 - 13:40
          +1

          @jjjaar: In Sydney the market is so bananas, people are paying insane prices for derelict houses to knock down and rebuild so, sometimes it doesn't even matter…

  • Peck on 17/05/2017 - 08:47

    On the subject of baths and reno's;
    How much would it cost to have an old bath pulled out and a new one installed? Ball-park figure would be good.
    I know that a lot will depend on the quality of the new bath, but I certainly would like it to be a solid bath and not cheap plastic etc.
    I did a bath insert on a previous property, and it really reduced the capacity of the bath a lot, and it was pretty 'tinny'.
    I am concerned about the durability of a respray 'in situ', but I guess that I could go for removal and rebake of current solid bath if that is viable.
    Anyone out there with experience with bath renewal feedback? Any co.s in Sydney worth trying?
    Thanks.

    • Qkumber on 17/05/2017 - 09:10

      We redid our bathroom recently to get it ready for an investment property. We did a shower over bath and moved the pipes a bit. It cost us about $6,000 including materials (bought cheap from Reece outlet). We kept existing flooring and vanity and repainted ourselves. It is a small bathroom around 2.5*2.5m

  • Euphemistic on 17/05/2017 - 10:00
    +2

    Our first home had no bath, I didn't miss it but my wife did. We were lucky enough to have a laundry tub next to the kitchen for bathing babies, was perfect height and easy to drain etc. When we moved to a house with a bath it mostly got used once we could pop two kids in there and they could sit by themselves safely. Before that a baby bath on the vanity was easier on the back and used less water.

    Once the littlest kid is over about 4 it doesn't matter, they can shower easy enough.

    If you are planning on staying over 10 years the bathroom will probably get done by new owners anyway. If you are having kids in that time consider how you can use a baby bath on a bench top somewhere if there is no bath.

  • JimB on 17/05/2017 - 10:39
    +2

    Previous house I owned and lived in had no bath. We bathed our toddlers in the laundry, much easier on your back.

    We renovated it too but choose to have a toilet in the smallish bathroom. I could have got rid of the toilet and added a shower over bath, but I think they look poxy.

    We rented it out to a young family with a toddler. It didn't seem to affect the number of applicants.

    If you don't use a bath regularly, I'll much prefer a larger shower over a bath.

  • Peck on 17/05/2017 - 10:57

    Had a foot operation (Twice) and was not allowed to put that foot onto the ground AT ALL for 8 weeks EACH TIME, not even tap it down for balance. Having a shower, even with a plastic chair, dangerous, and almost impossible. I would never buy a place without a bath option. And as baby boomers age, IMHO homes without a bath, or with lots of steps, will be less desirable.

    • Euphemistic on 17/05/2017 - 12:51

      on the other side of that as people age they are less and less able to get in and out of a bath.

  • nikey2k27 on 17/05/2017 - 11:56

    Yup in Onsen

  • goodcopbadcop on 17/05/2017 - 13:47

    Doing a mid range bathroom reno at the moment, and as there is no ensuite we've factored in a bath that is soakable depth (not everyone who gets into a bath is filthy btw) and plumbers have told us that a bath adds $3K-4K in value (not the cost) to the reno. As there was a bath there before - we're looking to change it's position to go along the other wall and under the window - so have tucked it in that way as we know it's not going to get used much. But we've spent a lot of time researching the sizes of everything so that we can get the largest walk in shower possible - using glass and no frames; the best fit vanity that may or may not have double bowls but includes storage space in cupboards and drawers; not the widest but as deep and as long as possible bath; the most compact back to wall toilet and finally places to have double towel rails to hang large towels flat. I've done (and seen) a couple of very expensive bathrooms that did not have that amount of planning and research and ended up with dead space cornersand hard to clean areas. It's still worth having a bath if you can fit it in. A new bathroom always needs to add something to your life (such as a bath you can soak in) especially when you've put up with all the mess during the reno!

  • try2bhelpful on 17/05/2017 - 14:34
    +1

    We had a 7ft by 7ft bathroom in our first house. We got a bath (with shower over it), a toilet and a vanity in the room and it didn't look particularly crowded. It was basically a black and white colour scheme and we tiled almost all the way up. People accept ensuites with showers only, but they do tend to expect a bath somewhere in the house.

  • Euphemistic on 17/05/2017 - 16:12
    +3

    Just don't put in a free standing bath. You'll have a hell of a time keeping it clean behind. It's easy to dust/sweep behind in narrow areas, but once it's wet…

  • timthetoolman on 17/05/2017 - 17:54

    Seems a pretty unanimous decision, thank you all very much for your advice.

  • voiletmay on 18/05/2017 - 06:39

    No, not at all. Our house has no bath. I was so happy when we moved in (with three small kids) - when you've got 3 little kids to watch in a bath, it takes ages out of your day. It is way faster to shower small kids and not waste an hour a day bathing them LOL!!

    My kids are in uni now and survived a bath free house just fine.

    • lgacb08 on 18/05/2017 - 12:08

      Start turning off the hot water tap after 10 min and they'd learn the lesson.

    • gimme on 18/05/2017 - 15:19
      +1

      Yea spot on… but you know these days it's different. Apparently you can't transport a family unless you own an SUV.

  • [Deactivated] on 18/05/2017 - 13:53

    no need. I put on in a place we built and rented and it seemed no one cared if we put one in or not, more storage in the bathroom is desirable. don't waste your money it costs a lot more with the extra plumbing etc unless there is a child going to be there.

  • dbun1 on 18/05/2017 - 14:10

    Not having a bath is said to be a deterrent and can limit/reduce the potential interest in your property when the time comes to sell or rent it out. How true it is I'm not sure as there are plenty of people who don't care.

  • idonotknowwhy on 18/05/2017 - 14:31

    Replace it with one of those Bath + Shower combos, where you stand in the bath tub to shower?

    • Skramit on 18/05/2017 - 16:38
      +4

      I don't know why but I HATEEEEEE shower over baths.

      Having to step in to the shower is THE WORST MENTAL TORTURE possible on the planet.

      • idonotknowwhy on 18/05/2017 - 17:04
        +1

        OMG! I feel the exact same way, but nobody I've told has ever agreed with me.
        I hate it so much when I see one of these in a hotel, and I won't rent a house like this!

        My advice above is for 'normal people' lol

        Edit: Even looking at them pisses me off.

        • Euphemistic on 18/05/2017 - 21:18

          Having to step up and over with wet feet is a recipe for slipping over. I don't like the idea either, but then I don't care if there is no bath. I'm too tall to fit in most and those I can fit in require so much hot water it's not worth it.

    • timthetoolman on 19/05/2017 - 18:17

      I would rather sleep on the floor with no bed than to use a shower+bath every day. They are horrible. 1st world problems I suppose

  • drprox on 18/05/2017 - 15:34

    We have a modest 2 bed, 1 bath house and no kids and Reno'd ours a couple of years ago. No regrets putting in a new tub and actually find ourselves using it a bit now that it's new and shiny.

  • bozbargain on 18/05/2017 - 17:32

    Really depends on your space and your own habits. We decided to change our bathroom with bath into a bathroom with just a shower and stacked or washer/dryer in the other corner. So now we have something in every corner if that makes sense (vanity, WC, shower, laundry). It's much nicer to have a large shower (1mx1m) than a cramped bathroom where you need to have a shower in the bath.

  • AlienC on 18/05/2017 - 20:14

    I am not a bath person but I know plenty who are so I say keep it since majority demographics like it which will better for you in the long run unless unless the people who will be using it would like a bigger shower for activities.

    Baths are nice.

  • Plug on 18/05/2017 - 20:21

    I'd go the other way and put in the biggest bath you can find. All new houses have baths so small they're not worth even trying. Get one a 6' adult can completely submerge in and you'll have a winner.

  • poppit88 on 19/05/2017 - 01:16

    As someone who has previously worked in real estate, I highly advise you to keep your bath. From a sales and rental perspective. (Definitely biased to women and families) Houses - particularly for rental were so much harder to shift with a bath. The same as selling. You won't get any extra in price but two identical houses - one with a bath and another without. The house with the bath will win out every time.

  • jonathonsunshine on 19/05/2017 - 05:45

    I'm always scared I'm gonna trip getting out of the bath/shower and crack my head open one day.

  • snajper on 19/05/2017 - 08:28

    "may use a bath once a year" - you have bigger problem with your tenants then the bathroom reno.

    At my old house, I had a very small bathroom and ended up installing 1.8m bath tub with opening frameless shower screen. It gave me more space to fit bigger bath (I am 6'5) and still have a shower there.

  • ilsan0 on 30/11/2020 - 10:50

    when we re did our bathroom, we got rid of the bath and put in a big shower.
    Never missed bath.
    The bathroom is spacious and fully sick!

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