We're looking into building a house which is very exciting. As standard the en suite comes with a bath/shower combo which has never been my favourite, so we have some options. Option 1 is to keep the standard size and switch the bath/shower combo for a 5' shower for $750. Option 2 is to upgrade the the luxury bathroom which makes it bigger and and adds a small shower and a small bath, small enough so I can't get into it, for $4000. Our preference is to just spend the $750 for the shower only but I doubt this will be the last house we buy and we're a little concerned that the lack of a bath in the en suite will bring the value down and maybe put off buyers. I just want to get some idea if a bath is something important to the majority.

It's a toss-up. Building your house means you can have things exactly as you want them. However, most buyers are going to expect a bath, and are going to be put off by the lack of one. It could be a problem at resale time.

As a woman I always look for a house that has a nice deep tub AND great shower. However if you are going to skimp out on a tub, make the shower the most luxurious. You know, multiple shower heads, spa like features and all that. As a matter of fact go with just a spa shower. That will count as a full bath if and when you decide to resale.

It's hard to sell a house without a bathtub in the master bath. Women look for it. Think bubble baths, candles, etc. I wouldn't even consider MB without the tub.

When we had our house built, we had an option for a bath and shower, or a shower or bath alone. We decided on the shower only because the bath was incredibly small. It was actually ridiculous, very small but really deep. My husband wasn't impressed as he wouldn't be able to stretch out in it.

We will be selling this house, hopefully next year (depending on real estate) and I really don't think not having a bathtub will be an issue. We chose not to have the fireplace as well (one size monster fireplace....ridiculous as well) and I don't think that's going to be an issue either. If I was looking for a house I'd be more interested in the shower, not necessarily a bathtub. In fact I'd be less interested if the shower was in the bathtub.

Interesting. How would you feel if the tub was the shower? I say this because the separate shower and tub are both smaller than the regular tub and the upgraded shower. The one we saw today wasn't big enough for me to actually get in.

That is true. I'm a shower girl but there are days when I'm at work that I crave a nice deep tub filled with water that comes up to my neck without me having to lay on my back to achieve the effect. Oh yeah....that sounds good right about now.

I'm with you 100% on both reasons!

That's what I mean.....I don't like tub showers. And the option was for a seperate shower stall and bathtub (both small.) Side by side. In the plan that we picked it would just look like there was too much, and we have a very big bathroom.

Personally I'm not a fan of that combination for a master suite. Perhaps it's ideal for the other bedrooms of the house. You know if it's one to be used by guests or children. The master suite should show a little more investment.

It all depends on the size of your bathroom...

Why not just get a nice big tub/combo installed by them....then if you've got the room add a shower yourself..

Personally for me, if it was a master suite I would expect both....but I don't like the idea of them both being small.

Ah, problems! I don't like the idea of a tub/shower combo, never have liked them. I also don't think that either of us has had a bath in years. Space is the limitation, there really isn't a whole lot of room for a longer tub, which is the problem. I guess it boils down to the question, is a tub worth $3250? When buying a house would you not consider it because it doesn't have a tub or would you pay an extra $3250 just to have something you don't use all that often, if at all?

I've got kids - have to have a bath for them (the little one is terrified of showers).

If you don't have a bath you're excluding a lot of your potential market when you sell the house.

What size is your bathroom anyway?

Spend the $3250 somewhere else.....

I personally would go for AC if that were an option. I know you probably can't get if for that much.....but I'm sure it would be nice in the summer.