Shower or tub?

Question

I'm currently rehabing two 1 bedroom apartments and I'm undecided on what I should do with the bathrooms. Both bathrooms are identical in size and they use to have a tub with out a shower. The old baths were built into an alcove of roughly 40" long by 36" wide, so only 20 or so inches were actually exposed to enter/ exit the tub. My thoughts were to install a 36" x 36" shower in place of the tub. It is possible for me to bump out a wall to fit in a tub provided I relocate the bathroom door. My question is this, is it worth it to make the necessary changes to accomodate the tub/shower or should I just install the shower? Will the lack of a tub have a drastic effect when showing the units? This is the first time I ran into this issue as all my other unis already had full baths. Also, these units are in low income  areas if it makes a difference. This is the 10 cent version of the story so if more input is needed let me know. Thanks.

George P. · Answer

just don is right. you never go wrong with a tub. many people will pass your rental if it does not have a tub. bathing a baby/kid in a shower is not fun.

Dick M. · Answer

Your going from a tub without a shower, I'd go with the 36X36 as a big improvement!

Andy B. · Answer

just my $0.02

if it is a 1 bedroom place, it is not that likely that you will be getting a family with small kids.  You might check with other landlords in this area to see if they are getting young children living in 1 bedroom places.

That being said, I think a shower is sufficient (it might help weed out the single mother with an infant as well - which I understand are some of the most likely to not pay rent).  The extra expense will not greatly increase the renter pool for a 1 bedroom, so I do not think you will recover that expense.

Steve Babiak · Answer

Just follow the instructions below:
http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/25/topics/45114-how-to-post-a-picture-

Mike Haro · Answer

Thanks for the responce Don.  It is possible to fit in a tub provided that I increase the square footage of the bathroom. The best way I can discribe it is the bath room is in the shape of the letter "L". The old tub was stuffed into the  "toe" part of the "L". If you were facing a tub with the length of the tub going from left to right only 20" were exposed to enter and exit the tub. The remaining 40" were stuffed into the alcove.  I could increase the square footage by reframing the room and giving up space in the kitchen which is on opposite side of the bathroom. By doing this I would be changing the shape from a "L" to a rectangle.

Just Don · Answer

depending on who your marketing to the units.  Any chance of single mothers with small children?  Ever try to bath an infant or small child in a shower?

Saying that, cant quite picture the set up.  Are you saying there is room for a standard size 60 inch long tub or not?  I would NEVER special order/ buy one smaller.

Small people take baths/95 to 99 % adults take showers unless they grew up with or recently 'forced' to tub it.

Make the shower,if thats what you have to do, as large as possible with a pan, then covered in river rock pebble floor,,,and ceramic tile the walls , over red guard,over cement board, over good insulation if its an outside wall,,,roxul is best, does NOT support mold like fiberglass,,,its spun from rocks.

They also make a product you use INSTEAD of water when mixing your grout and its permanently sealed, forever,,,or use epoxy grout.

Plastic or fiberglass enclosures are a joke and dont last from noon to dinner. crack, leak, get ruined often,,,are inferior product,,,and need special care, which renters dont EVER do. Last expensive one guy cleaned with a hammer and screwdriver,,,needless to say it has holes now.  No more, all ceramic tile for me,,,easy to install once you do a couple. Good looking and timeless if you use something like shiny white subway tile, I happen to like 4 bye 4 cause uneven walls work better than large tile, they are cheap, about 10 cents on sale,,can easily replaced and pieced back in with perfect match. Sorta idiot proof.

same way with bath and kitch floors cept use light sand color in a 12 bye 12 size.  Careful to keep some texture to it so not slick getting out of shower with wet feet, or walk in with rain or snow on feet slick.  I use "Dunes" style in "Destin" color.

I am in process of second identical bath remodel,,,who says you cant copy from unit to unit so dont have piles of left overs,,,I can use parts and pieces from one to next.  Keep a 'few spares' and be done.

I cant post pics, too old and dumb,,only could send pics to somebody on phone if they could post them here.(for me)????