Bathrooms are among the first places buyers look during showings and inspections. If the bathtub or shower looks outdated, damaged, or poorly installed, buyers start thinking about the repairs they need to make after moving in. It affects whether you can sell your home and for how much.
Yes, upgrading your bathtub or shower can increase your home’s resale value, though it depends on the condition of your bathroom and the local housing market. In many cases, a modern, professionally installed tub or shower helps a home feel ready to move in. However, remodeling isn’t always necessary.
At Shugarman’s Bath, we specialize in bathtub and shower remodeling. We work with homeowners throughout San Diego and Orange County, including those who are trying to decide whether upgrading their bathroom makes sense before selling their home. After remodeling almost 5,000 bathtubs and showers, we understand how these upgrades impact home inspections and overall resale value.
In this article, you’ll learn how a bathtub or shower remodel can affect your home’s resale value, what buyers and inspectors look for, and when remodeling makes sense before selling your home.
Table of Contents:
- Why Is a New Bathtub or Shower In the Bathroom So Important When Selling a Home?
- How Can Upgrading a Bathtub or Shower Increase Your Home’s Value?
- Can Problems Behind Shower Walls Impact a Home Sale?
- Wait, So How Do Inspectors or Buyers Spot a Poor Bathtub or Shower?
- Should I Do a Full Bathroom Remodel? Or Just the Tub and Shower?
- Are There Times You Should Not Remodel Before Selling Your Home?
- What Trends and Design Choices Appeal to Today’s Home Buyers?
- What Documents Should You Keep After a Bathtub or Shower Remodel?
- Does a Tub or Shower Remodel Make Sense For Your Home Value?
Why Is a New Bathtub or Shower In the Bathroom So Important When Selling a Home?
Bathrooms and kitchens carry a lot of weight when someone makes an offer. An outdated, damaged, or poorly installed tub or shower leads them to think more about the repairs or remodel they would need to make.
Upgrading your tub or shower area can:
- Increase home value
- Attract more buyers
- Help the home sell faster on the market
- Reduce the need to offer repair credits, meaning the buyer will knock the amount of the repair off the home price.
What you want is for the buyer to feel good about their home and to move forward. It helps to have a bathroom that feels safe, clean, modern, and ready to use. That all starts with the tub and shower area.
How Can Upgrading a Bathtub or Shower Increase Your Home’s Value?
In the current market, upgrading a bathtub or shower can increase home value by around 5-10%, depending on the scope of the project and local market demand. This increase comes from removing future costs for the buyer. The last thing they want is to replace a failing bathtub or shower after closing.
A new bathtub or shower makes your home feel move-in ready, reduces negotiation pressure, and lowers the likelihood that the buyer will ask for repair credits.
Can Problems Behind Shower Walls Impact a Home Sale?
Oh, they absolutely can. Granted, inspectors don’t have X-ray vision to see behind walls. Inspectors are likely to use a moisture meter to check for elevated moisture levels.
When moisture levels are elevated, inspectors will suspect damage behind the walls, including structural damage, mold, plumbing leaks, or water damage in crawl spaces. If these issues are discovered, the inspection may not pass as-is. In many cases, repairs will need to be made before the sale can move forward.
Note: Readings above 20% indicate risk of rot and mold.
If inspection findings come back with moisture or damage, a few things can happen:
- The buyer may ask for repairs before closing
- The buyer may reduce their offer or request a price reduction
- The buyer may walk away entirely
Keep in mind that when moisture or structural concerns are documented, the buyer is likely to look more closely at other parts of the home. To say it can slow a sale down or stop it is an understatement.
Wait, So How Do Inspectors or Buyers Spot a Poor Bathtub or Shower?
Inspectors (and some buyers) do a visual check, looking for signs that the area isn’t up to snuff or that an installation was done poorly. So they’ll be looking for uneven tile, faulty or missing silicone, outdated fixtures, if grout was used instead of silicone in the area, and visible water staining.
Of course, as mentioned earlier, they will use moisture meters if they suspect there may be damage behind the walls.
They will also want information on plumbing. Plumbing that is 15, 20, or 30 years old may raise questions. If a seller cannot answer questions about when plumbing was last updated, buyers may hesitate or question what else hasn’t been maintained.
Should I Do a Full Bathroom Remodel? Or Just the Bathtub or Shower?
In truth, it might be in your best interest to have the whole bathroom redone when selling your home. It will generally increase home value (typically $1.71 for every dollar spent on the remodel). Even if you might not get the return on investment, a full bathroom remodel will help your sale in other ways, such as attracting buyers who would have turned down the offer if you didn’t remodel.
It’s reasonable to think of hiring a subcontractor to “do it all.” What often happens is that contractors who do the full bathroom are bringing in subcontractors for plumbing, tile, and installation. If something fails later, responsibility can shift between trades. So the seller might not have a clear answer about who handled what.
Start with your shower area. Remodeling the tub and shower area makes up about 70% of a full bathroom remodel. It’s the most expensive and complex part of the bathroom to replace. That’s why it’s important to hire a shower remodeling specialist in the tub and shower area, especially if they have a C36 plumbing license in California to show they are qualified to do plumbing in the area, and with company-trained, in-house installers. Since they work in the area every day, they have enough experience to reduce the number of mistakes.
Focusing on the bathtub and shower first makes sense because it addresses:
- The most expensive part of the bathroom
- The highest inspection risk
- The strongest visual focal point
- The area buyers use every day
Paint, vanities, mirrors, and towel bars can be done separately from the tub and shower area. You can hire another contractor or a handyman, or do these remodels yourself.
The bathtub and shower are the core of the bathroom. Upgrade that and leave room for additional upgrades.
Read more in our article about starting with the bathtub and shower area for your full bathroom remodel.
Are There Times You Should Not Remodel Before Selling Your Home?
Remodeling might not make sense if the cost exceeds what you can afford. Selling as-is may be the better option. Some buyers are willing to purchase a home knowing they may need to make improvements later. Pricing the home appropriately may be more practical than remodeling.
Also, if your tub or shower is already in good condition, shows no signs of failure, and doesn’t raise inspection concerns, an upgrade may be entirely unnecessary.
The question you need to ask yourself is: Will the upgrade reduce risk and increase buyer confidence?
If your answer is yes, remodeling will likely work in your favor. If not, a remodel may not be worth the cost.
What Bathroom Trends and Design Choices Appeal to Today’s Home Buyers?
Buyers today want a bathtub or shower that is low-maintenance and reduces the risk of future repairs. They want something that works without constant attention.
The choice between bathtubs and showers varies between buyers, but walk-in showers are popular for day-to-day use. They’re easier to access, clean, and feel more modern.
In homes with more than one bathroom, many buyers prefer having at least one bathtub in the house. That way, they at least have the option of using the bathtub if they so choose. A tub also offers flexibility for families with children, guests, or future resale value.
In many cases, depending on the region and property type, a walk-in shower in the primary bathroom and at least one bathtub in another bathroom can appeal to many homeowners.
What Documents Should You Keep After a Bathtub or Shower Remodel?
When the remodeling work is complete, documentation helps prove that the work behind the walls was done correctly and supports the value of your upgrades. Having records can make buyers feel more confident about the home's condition.
Documents to have include:
- A transferable warranty for the installation
- Proof that a certified plumbing contractor made plumbing updates if needed
- Invoice Receipts showing who performed the work
Keeping these records can help answer buyer questions and reassure them that they don’t need to worry about their bathtub or shower anytime soon.
Does a Tub or Shower Remodel Make Sense For Your Home Value?
There’s always that feeling of uncertainty when selling your home. Every detail and decision affects whether a buyer chooses to buy your home. One of the largest considerations buyers look at is the bathroom. The condition of the tub or shower can quickly influence how they feel about your home.
Upgrading a tub and shower area can make your home feel closer to move-in-ready. It also reassures the buyer that the space has been properly maintained. That said, remodeling isn’t always necessary, especially if the bathtub or shower is in good condition.
Now that you know how a bathtub or shower remodel can help increase home resale value, make sure you can hire someone to do the job right the first time. Next, read our article on finding the right bathtub or shower remodeler. Be sure you’re hiring the right contractor to do the remodel to get the most value out of your home.
If you want help evaluating your current tub or shower and deciding whether remodeling makes sense for reselling your home, contact our team at Shugarman’s Bath.
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