Gentlemen prefer showers

Apparently, more men take showers than baths and more women take baths than showers. That being the case, should you have both in your house to maximise the chances of a sale? Andrew Bush, director of Bush Property Services, is convinced.

"One of the many reasons we advise sellers not to spend vast amounts on their property before putting it on the market, apart from the fact that they'll very seldom get back the full value of their improvements, is that many buyers want to put their own stamp on their new home, which often involves ripping out either the kitchen or bathroom, or possibly both, and starting from scratch.

"From the buyer's perspective, if they want to change the bathroom and they are a single man or single woman, the temptation to just put in what they enjoy most, be it a shower or a bath, can be quite great. After all, it's only them living there and there is a cost saving to be made.

"The trouble is that when they come to sell the property again, a bath without a shower and particularly a shower without a bath just doesn't feel complete. Immediately the buyer is thinking they're going to have to spend money on the property in order to put in what's missing. Although this may be completely irrational, given that they're probably going to spend thousands putting their own mark on the place anyway, it is undoubtedly something to put negative thoughts into buyers' minds, just at the time when you need them least.

"My advice would always be to have a bath and a shower in the bathroom. That way you can sell to either sex with impunity without worrying you're going to put any body off due to a lack of facilities. And besides, you might fancy a change yourself one day."