No Tub? No Problem

Cost-conscious buyers are accepting master baths with showers only

Do you still need to install a tub in the master bath? Not too long ago the answer was an unqualified "yes," but things have changed considerably in the past few years.

The last time the National Association of Home Builders did significant research on master bathroom features was in 2007. In that study, 70 builders, architects and designers were asked questions about the average new home of 2,400 square feet and an upscale new home of 3,000 square feet or larger. For the average home, 61 percent of the panelists - a strong majority - said that both a shower and tub was "critical" or "very critical" in the master bath. For upscale new homes, the percentage soared to 94 percent.

Word from the trenches is that those numbers have already become outdated, as builders and home buyers alike look for ways to cut costs. In the bath, as in every other room, they're doing so by eliminating frills and focusing on what matters most. For instance, having a tub and shower in the master bath is no longer considered an absolute necessity for resale. Given the choice, many buyers will opt to save money by skipping the tub altogether. Read more...

--Featured on Moen Insight - December, 2009