Do buyers still want a bathtub in the primary bathroom?
Many still do. In a 2024 national builders' survey, 78% of buyers rated having both a shower and a tub in the primary bath as essential or desirable.
The garden tub in a lot of 1990s and 2000s North Texas homes takes up a corner, collects dust and rarely gets used. Swapping it for a big walk-in shower is one of the most common remodels homeowners consider. Here's how to think about it.
What the surveys say
- 2024: 78% of buyers in NAHB's What Home Buyers Really Want survey rated a shower and tub in the primary bath as essential or desirable. It was the top-rated primary bath feature.
- 2021: In the same survey, 74% wanted both a shower stall and a tub and 36% called a tub essential.
Remodeling trends lean toward big showers. Buyer surveys still lean toward having a tub.
When removing the tub makes sense
- There's another good tub in the house. If a secondary bathroom has a full-size tub, buyers who need one have an option.
- You plan to stay a long time. If the remodel is for you and you'll enjoy it for years, resale matters less.
- The bathroom is small. A cramped shower and an unused tub can become one generous shower that works much better.
- The shower is the real problem. A tiny, dated stall may hurt more than a missing tub.
When to think twice
- It's the only tub in the house. Buyers who want one, for any reason, may pass.
- You plan to sell within a few years. Match what competing homes at your price have.
- The tub is in good shape. Sometimes a new faucet, fresh caulk and a modern tub surround are all it needs.
A middle ground
Many remodels now use a "wet room": a freestanding tub inside a large glass-enclosed shower. It keeps a tub, gives a bigger shower and fits in about the same footprint as the old garden tub and stall.
Jeanie's rule of thumb: a home needs at least one bathtub but it doesn't have to be in the primary bath.
FAQ
Will removing the tub lower my home's sale price? It depends on your price point and what competing homes have. Talk with an agent before you start.
Do buyers care about the tub in a secondary bathroom? Yes. It's often the one that gets used most.
What about jetted tubs? Many buyers see them as more maintenance. A clean, working jetted tub is fine. A broken one becomes a repair request.
Final takeaway
Build the shower you want, but keep at least one good tub somewhere in the house if you plan to sell in the next few years.
Planning a remodel before you sell?
Jeanie will tell you which updates matter for your price point before you spend. Call (972) 414-0719 or visit the sellers guide.
Related posts
- Your Tile Isn't Going Anywhere. Pick the Paint Around It.
- Why Your Remodel Timeline Will Probably Be Wrong
Sources: NAHB Eye on Housing: Home buyers are looking for amenity-loaded kitchens and bathrooms (2024), NAR: Does the primary bathroom still need a tub? (2021)
