If you are renovating your bathroom ahead of a sale, we’d be delighted to discuss the current trends and what prospective buyers seek from a great bathroom. Some of their expectations are obvious – some not so much.

But for a household feature that represents luxury and relaxation, a bathtub can be a stressful item to purchase!

The number of bath options is head-spinning, and they combine to make it challenging to understand the best product for your needs.

As a high-level tip, it’s useful to focus initially on the shape, depth and size when making a purchase.

Because the decision is so pivotal to the look and feel of your final bathroom design, we’ve outlined four critical factors in buying a bath.

Measure first – Before hitting the showrooms and falling in love with a particular bath, measure your bathroom and decide how much space you want it to take. An oversized bath will cramp your options for a shower, vanity and additional storage.

Jet-setting option – If your heart is set on a spa bath or one with jet-streams, then investigate your plumbing options before moving ahead with a purchase. You’ll get lots of good advice from a qualified contractor. Spa baths will require additional plumbing costs when it comes to installation.

The heat is on – Can your hot water system cope with the demands of a large bath? This is another question to clarify with your contractor. If you need a new water heater, the project might start to get pretty expensive. And if you’re looking to sell in the short-term, discuss with your agent whether the investment is worthwhile.

Weighty problem – A larger bath will add significantly more weight to the structure of your home once full. If you’re planning a much larger bath upstairs – or a traditional cast iron bath –  it’ll be a good idea to check with a contractor to see if its weight will be a problem.