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July 6, 2008
Small bathroom without tub
Hi folks. Just wanted to get some opinions on doing a small bathroom renovation (in a 1 br. apt.) that leaves out a bathtub and replaces it with a walk-in/wetroom style shower.
What I mean is...we plan to move sometime in the next 2 to 3 years, and although we like the idea of a wetroom ourselves, we are concerned about how the lack of tub might impact the apt. resale value. Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Comments
It might not impact the sale.
I depends on the buyer.
Posted by: Ysabelle at July 6, 2008 1:45 PM
Sure, it depends on the buyer. But you WILL lose a part of your market. I, for one, take baths (especially in the winter when I get home and am freezing cold), so I would never consider an apartment without a tub. Ok, I may be part of a small subset of the market.
But those with little kids (and don't fool yourself, many people have toddlers in a one-bedroom apartment) would probably make up a much larger subset of the market. All in all, I'd say you'd turn off at least 1/3 of the market, if not more.
And I don't think there is a market subset looking for wetrooms instead of tubs. They work best in apartments where your OTHER bathroom has a tub.
Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 2:44 PM
I agree that you they work best where you have two bathrooms and can make one shower-only and one with a tub. With that said, if I didn't have kids, I would rather have a wetroom rathern than a tub. I never filled the tub in 8 years living in one bedroom/1 bath apartments in NY. In other words, there are some of us out there.
Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 4:30 PM
Prior to raising a family I did the same as you are suggesting in my 1br in Brooklyn Heights, and it appealed to many singles at the time of sale. I'd say go for it!
Posted by: LaurenWalsh at July 6, 2008 4:51 PM
I did something similar to a small bathroom and removed the tub. At first I found the conversion wonderful. I realized later that I could have taken space from an adjacent closet and made the bathroom larger including the tub. Sometimes expansion seems a hassle but since you are considering making a change anyway, evaluate any space you have nearby that could be incorporated into this bath.
Posted by: mimidy at July 6, 2008 5:07 PM
Of course, it totally depends on the buyer. I would never consider a place without a tub. My boyfriend, on the other hand, loves the walk-in showers. Why don't you call some real estate agents and ask them how it would affect their pricing?
Posted by: guest at July 6, 2008 10:24 PM
I believe building code requires a tub in the apertment as well.
Posted by: guest at July 7, 2008 8:24 AM
It's a 1BR apartment so I don't think you would have many offers from parents with kids anyway.
Posted by: Steve at July 7, 2008 2:49 PM
Steve is wrong there - many parents of infants, and those without children but planning to have a kid, plan to stay in a one-bedroom with a small child for some years until they can afford something bigger.
Posted by: guest at July 7, 2008 4:20 PM
Don't do it. Especially if you're moving in 2-3 years, why absorb that extra cost and headache?
Posted by: guest at July 7, 2008 5:52 PM
Sure they do... in affordable rental apartments. But how many parents with a small child would buy a 1BR co-op? That number has to be statistically insignificant.
Posted by: Steve at July 7, 2008 6:56 PM
Steve doesn't know the market. Many families with kids start out in one-bedrooms in NYC. (I never would, I like space too much.) But for those who can live in tight quarters and delay gratification, it works for them to buy small and then save like crazy (while building equity) for a larger apartment or a house. Have seen it over and over again. A significant part of the market really, especially when prices are so high that more of your buyers will be 2-income couples rather than singles, given how much earnings it takes to pay the mortgage.
Posted by: guest at July 8, 2008 12:27 PM
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