Although the condo is new construction all the amenities were already selected - the kitchen is gorgeous - yet, the all white bathroom with white tile floor, white cabinets, and a bath/shower combo is so basic. In light, I would love to update the bathroom with a more modern feel that matches the rest of the house - granite, hardwoods, stainless steel, etc - I would like to update the space by updating the tiles on the floor, installing beautiful wood cabinets and a updated sink and hardware, as well as removing the tub and installing a large walk in shower with updated tile. I know this will really pull the house together. However, I wasn’t sure if is a good idea to remove the tub, since this is the only bathroom in the house.is this a bad investment. and will this hurt the condo’s resale value.
3 Responses to “I’m buying a new 1 bd/ 1ba condo, is it wise to update the bath/shower combo to a modern large shower suite.”
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You can’t lose with a bath or a kitchen remodel. So. yea, go for it.
One bed/one bath is for a single person so updating to a shower isn’t much of a risk. It will be wise not to over do it.
For a 1 BR/1 BA, I would not say that replacing a tub with a shower only would hurt the resale value, but you’re not going to increase the value by as much as it would cost you to do the remodel. You’re basically removing a brand new bathroom, and paying to have it replaced with another brand new bathroom. This will probably cost you several thousand dollars, and will never add that much onto the value of the condo.
If I were you, I’d negotiate with the builder to have them redo the bathroom, or discount the price of the unit so you can afford to do it yourself. The market is pretty slow right now, so they may be willing to cut you a deal.
If you are planning on staying in the unit for the long haul, you might want to wait to do the bathroom anyway. Styles change so quickly these days, and if you are in the unit for 10 years, white tile bathrooms may come back in vogue, and you’ll want to update the rest of the place to match the bathroom.
It’s always risky not to have a bathtub. A bath/shower combo can accommodate everyone, but a shower stall does not work for people who prefer to bathe. It will generally reduce the size of your buyer pool when you attempt to sell later.
As for making other major changes, consult your buyer’s agent for a projection on how your costs may affect your resale potential.