Home owners are choosing showers over tubs, despite the long-standing notion that it is important to have a tub for resale value.

We're definitely seeing a trend toward walk-in showers versus tubs, says Katie Campbell, sales manager for the Heritage of Palatine, a Chicago-area development where homes are priced from $221,900. We used to do a lot of big soaking tubs with shower stalls in the master bathroom, but we had a lot of people eliminate the tub because they wanted a bigger shower.

Having at least one tub in the house is still important because some buyers want them, insists Kathy Dames-Mattox, an associate with ReMax of Joliet. But she advises homeowners not to spend a lot of money on whirlpool tubs.

I don't see whirlpool tubs as being a big deal anymore, Dames-Mattox says. Everybody who adds one says they never use it.

Source: Chicago Tribune, Allison E. Beatty (07/03/2009)

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