Just curious what you would do?

I am fixing up a house to sell. The tub needs to be replaced and it will be tiled, new shower valve etc.....

In my rentals I always put in cast iron tubs, cost $350. They are heavy and a bit of a pain but I prefer the durability.

I could save on this one by using a steel tub for about $125.00. I don't know that it will make any difference as far as the sale goes. Builders seem to always just use the cheaper steel tubs.

It's just killing me to go through all the work of tiling and not putting in what I put in for my own rentals. Am I crazy and just spending unnecessary money? We tend to be perfectionists and want to do everything the way we'd like it and it's a hard habit to break but I'll never see this house again.

Fixing up for resale? I would do what and the way you feel good. Your not putting in gold fixtures-- your talking a few hundred bucks --- over a not so satisfying tub in your eyes.

CI are difficult to install as replacement, due to the weight and the fact that the walls are in. Even harder if it has to go on a second floor.

I know what you say about perfectionism. It's important to keep it in line with the end objective. Either new tub will look good, much better than before. Make it easy for yourself where you can, enough other difficulties will present themselves anyway.

Lisa,

Local designers are taking out tubs and building full size showers with awesome tiling. These homes sell quickly for full price.

I am a licensed contractor and licensed plumbing contractor, landlord and owner of many rentals.

Let me tell you a story. I client was fixing up their last apartment in a building, then going to list it for sale. This was an upper unit. I told my client that his idea of putting in a fiberglass tub with plastic walls wasn't a good idea because if the building didn't sell and he re-rented this unit, a tenant can drop something and crack the tub. Even if he put a cheep metal tub, it could chip easily.

So he went ahead and put in a combo fiberglass tub and surroundings. The building didn't sell so quickly and he then had to rent out he vacant unit. Within a month the tenant cracked the base of the tub, leaking water to the unit below.

So many good ideas and thoughts!

I shouldn't care. But the one thing I hate is shoddy workmanship and products. The worst house I ever bought was from a flipper. So much to have to fix, so many shortcuts. I will never do that again.

This is a very nice starter or retirement home. I almost feel guilty for making so much on it. I'm too attached to my houses sometimes and I've bought enough houses and have had enough tenants to know how often things are not cared for.

We are putting in Lifeproof flooring and I want to leave them with detailed instructions on how to maintain it so it doesn't get ruined. Same with bathtub care instructions.

I will probably fold and put in my standard cast iron tub because I can't bear the thought of a steel one being easily scratched or rusting in a few years knowing they're not so simple to replace. It's like I can't handle the thought of our labor being wasted even though I'll never see it again.

It's probably the same reason I get offended when someone nit picks something small-like I want to scream "you have no idea what a good house you are getting" !