Will Replacing My Tub with a Shower Hurt My Home's Resale Value?

​This is one of the questions we hear most often from our clients. Maybe your children are grown and the tub just does not seem necessary anymore, or maybe you like the look of the walk-in tiled showers. Whatever the reason, we have rounded up some insight from local realtors and our professional experience to give you the tools to make a decision that works for you.
 
The general answer is no. Troy Miller, realtor for Homestead Realty, says, “The remodeled bath is a plus as bathrooms are one of the renovations where you see a great return on investment (kitchens and baths have highest [return on investment] (ROI))”. According to research conducted by the website Remodeling, which surveyed nearly 1,500 real estate professionals, a mid-range bathroom remodel generally has about a 57% ROI. It’s important to remember that no remodeling project will ever have a 100% ROI, but that does not directly correlate to what a buyer is willing to pay for that investment.
 
“I don’t feel you are actually devaluing a property if you made a bath into a walk in, but what you may do is reduce the number of buyers down the road when you sell as some buyers still feel they need a regular bathtub”, says Miller. The important things to consider is what type of property it is, and also how long you to intend to stay in the home. For example, if the home is a three bedroom, one bathroom home in a family neighborhood, then your typical buyer could be a family with young children who view having a tub as a necessity.
 
If, however, the home has two bathrooms and each one has a tub, then you can feel at ease replacing one of them with a walk-in shower. Kristin Altendorf, a realtor with Coldwell Banker, says, “I find the tub to be more of a visual piece of art, especially the free standing ones. So in the high end $600+, to make a master bath elegant and luxurious I think you need a tub. In the lower price range either a more functional shower over tub or skip it in the master and have one in the guest bath”.
 
This brings us to our second point, how long do you intend to stay in the home? If you plan on moving in the next 5 years, most realtors will tell you that any modifications you make to the home should appeal to the masses. You want to make sure you can get the most out of the property, and the best way to do that is to try to appeal to the most amount of buyers. Miller ads, “If you are not planning on selling, then modify the home to fit your needs.  The potential negative impact is outweighed by the enjoyment/convenience you would receive from modifying the home to fit your particular needs”.