Homeowners Ask: What will it do to my resale value if I replace my old tub with a luxury shower?

I hear you. There’s nothing like a shower to wake up in the morning or to unwind at the end of the day. But the answer to your question is a balancing act between your market and your needs.

 A WORD OF CAUTIONFirst off, traditional advice says to keep one tub. If you have only one full bathroom, and if you heed traditional norms, then keep the tub. Update it, if you want to, but keep it.

 BUT NOT SO FAST

Consider who would be most likely to buy your home. If families are you market, they definitely want a tub in at least one bathroom. But if your house is small and appeals to young singles, or older adults, you could nix the one tub, and they’d be delighted.

 KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES

Buyers in your neighborhood start by comparing the number and quality of baths and bedrooms in available homes. If your neighbors are removing tubs from the primary bath or a second family bath, you can be confident that a new shower will keep your home competitive.

 RETURN ON INVESTMENT

According to Forbes, a tub-to-shower conversions costs $1,200 to $8,000 and averages $3,000. RenoFi Renovation Index estimates that sellers recoup more than 50 percent of such investments. But timing matters. How soon would you be selling? In 10 years, today’s new shower will need refurbishing. So bottomline: Is the new shower for you now or for a sale in the future?

 REMEMBER YOU CALL THE SHOTSYou can approach the selling – and buying – process confidently armed with up-to-the-minute data and a great team of agents with the Adam J. Baldwin team.