My neighbor just spent $15,000 gutting her bathroom, and now she’s having second thoughts. “Should I have kept the tub?” she asked over the fence last week, watching potential buyers tour her house. It’s the question every homeowner faces during a bathroom remodel, and honestly, there’s no perfect answer that works for everyone.
The Real Estate Reality Check
I’ve been in the same house for 22 years and talked to enough realtors to know they all say different things. Sarah, who sold the house across the street, swears by the “you need at least one tub” rule. But then Mike, who handles the newer developments downtown, says his buyers specifically request walk-in showers. “Nobody uses bathtubs anymore,” he claims.
The truth sits somewhere in the muddy middle. Your neighborhood matters more than any general rule.
Modern Bathroom Interior Featuring A Walk-In Shower
In my area, full of 1960s ranches and young families, ripping out the only tub is basically real estate suicide. But my brother’s condo building in the city? Different story entirely.
What Buyers Actually Want
Last year, I helped my daughter house hunt, and we must have looked at forty bathrooms. Here’s what I noticed: the houses with gorgeous walk-in showers photographed better online. Those listings got more clicks, more showings. But in person? Different story.
“Where would I bathe the baby?” my daughter asked in one house. “What about when I throw out my back?” her husband added.
They ended up buying a place with both—a master bathroom with a fancy shower and a hall bathroom with a tub. But not everyone has that luxury of space or budget.
The age thing is real, though. My parents recently moved to a ranch-style home specifically because they wanted a walk-in shower. “I’m not climbing over a tub wall when I’m 80,” my dad said. Fair point.
The Money Talk Nobody Wants to Have
Let’s get real about costs. My cousin just installed a basic walk-in shower—nothing fancy, just clean and functional. Final bill: $7,500. Her quote for a tub replacement? $3,200. The shower required moving plumbing, reinforcing the floor, and installing a glass door that cost more than my first car.
But here’s the kicker—she’s convinced it’ll pay off when she sells. Maybe. The identical house next door, still sporting its original 1990s tub-shower combo, sold for $12,000 less last summer. Was it just the bathroom? Who knows. Houses aren’t science experiments.
What I do know is that a badly done remodel of either option hurts more than keeping something dated but functional. I’ve seen too many DIY shower installs with puddles in the corner and doors that don’t quite close.
Living With Your Choice
Here’s what people don’t think about: how you’ll actually use the space. My friend Janet installed a beautiful walk-in shower with rainfall showerhead, built-in bench, the works. Two years later? “I miss my baths,” she admits. “Bad day at work? A shower just isn’t the same.”
Meanwhile, my nephew swears removing his tub was the best decision ever. More room, easier to clean, and he actually uses the bathroom instead of avoiding it. “I hadn’t taken a bath since college anyway,” he says.
Think about your actual life. Got dogs? Good luck washing a muddy golden retriever in a walk-in shower. Kids under ten? That tub’s going to see action. Bad knees or balance issues? That curb-less shower entry might be a lifesaver.
The Compromise Nobody Talks About
There’s a third option people forget: keeping both, just smaller. My sister’s 1950s bathroom had a massive corner tub that ate up half the room. She replaced it with a standard-size tub and carved out space for a separate shower stall. Not luxurious, but functional.
“Best of both worlds,” she says, though she admits the shower’s tight. “I’m not doing yoga in there, but it works.”
Some people are going with those tub-shower combos that have doors—easier entry than climbing over the side, but you keep the option to soak. They look a bit medical, honestly, but for aging in place? Smart thinking.
Making the Call
After watching dozens of friends and family tackle this decision, here’s my take: there’s no universal right answer. But there are wrong answers for your specific situation.
Ripping out your only tub in a family neighborhood? Probably a mistake. Installing a tiny corner shower in a master bathroom built for a soaking tub? Also questionable. Building a spa-like shower in your forever home where you plan to age? That might be brilliant.
The value question depends on who’s asking. Value for resale tomorrow? Keep the tub if it’s your only one. Value for your life over the next decade? That’s a different calculation entirely.
My neighbor? She kept the tub after all. Added a gorgeous frameless glass door and new tile instead. Cost half as much as the full remodel, and she’s happy. The house sold in two weeks to a young family.
“Thank god you kept the tub,” the buyer told her at closing. “We almost didn’t look because so many houses only have showers now.”
Sometimes the best remodel is the one that leaves your options open.