10 Gorgeous Bathroom Listing Pictures With Hidden Problems: Can You Spot Them?

Aug 11, 2023

For those of us who love surfing real estate listings, nothing stops us in our tracks like a truly luxurious bathroom. Just looking at photos of glossy tiled wet rooms, deep soaking tubs, multijet showers, and other luxe elements seems to melt away stress.

But while it’s natural to fast-forward in your fantasies to owning such a palatial paradise in your someday home, you’ll want to press pause before you purchase. Why? Because some of the things we fall for in real estate listing photos can turn out to be a real pain in real life.

I learned this the hard way—by buying a home with a bathroom I swore I’d adore, but that quickly jarred me back to an uncomfortable reality once I took my first bath. Avoid my same fate by taking a closer look at these listing photos and hearing how these lovely amenities might not live up to the hype.

(Realtor.com)

Have you ever had to make the shower-bath compromise—you love a long soak, but your partner prefers a good, hot shower, or vice versa? Someone is always left out.

The combo suite gives everyone what they want, but pay attention to how the room is laid out. It’s not uncommon to see a tub squeezed up against a shower stall, with zero headroom left over.

This happened to me in my first home purchase. Trust me, a soak in such a tub is the opposite of relaxing. I’d emerge from the suds with extra aches—especially the crick in my neck. That tub was the first thing I replaced as soon as I saved up enough to renovate.

(Realtor.com)

When you imagine the perfect en suite bath, is there a free-standing tub? In my fantasy bathroom, there’s always that jumbo sculptural place to soak. But there’s something you need to know about how a free-standing tub works best—and that is out in the open.

When squeezed into an alcove, as this one is, it’s a mold condition waiting to happen. Someone is sure to slosh water down the wall. And how many nail brushes, pumice stones, and nail clippers will vanish, along with bars of soap, slipping into the narrow gap between the walls and the tub? Finally, how will you clean that space?

(Realtor.com)

It’s not uncommon for a bathroom designer to locate a free-standing tub in front of a row of windows. It’s a wonderful experience to bathe surrounded by views of nature. But if you’re drawn to a photo of a tub with a view, give a thought to window treatments. Sometimes there are none. And you might find it difficult to relax in a room with no privacy and possibly your neighbors getting an eyeful.

(Realtor.com)

Everyone’s latest obsession, wet rooms are sleek and beautiful. And they are very functional for homeowners who require wheelchair accessibility since there’s no lip between the shower and the rest of the loo.

But there are downsides, too. Namely, a wet room can easily take up the space of two bathrooms. And having one big bathroom instead of two could ratchet down the resale value of a home.

Cleaning is also a consideration. There’s a lot of tile to wipe down, and at some point, redoing the grout will climb to the top of your to-do list.

(Realtor.com)

Frameless glass shower screens have the effect of opening up a space: Light bounces off the glass, making everything look brighter. Dispensing with a shower curtain is also a great way to show off beautiful tile or stonework inside the shower. But before you fall head over heels with these based on listing photos, take a second look at where the fixtures are located.

Usually, there’s one glass panel that’s fixed and another that swings open. Depending on where the fixed panel is located, there might be no way to turn on the water without stepping partly or fully into the enclosure.

If you typically turn on the water and let it warm up before you step in (as many of us do), you may be in for a cold spritzing on a daily basis.

(Realtor.com)

Aah, your very own sink, without anyone else’s toothbrush crowding yours. It’s dreamy for couples sharing a bathroom, but look at how much room these two pedestal sinks take up—and how little storage there is.

If you go with this design, you’re sacrificing a cabinet that would hold all manner of hairstyling tools, hoarded toilet paper, and toiletry staples. And you’re setting yourself up for a lot of clutter, which doesn’t make for a soothing, spa-style space.

(Realtor.com)

Everyone’s dream en suite bedroom likely includes a closet (or two)—better yet, a closet you can access via the bathroom. What could be more convenient?

But stop and think for a moment about the layout here: Most people will find it very annoying to have to traipse through the bathroom every time they need to get to their closet. What if someone is using the bathroom and you have to wait? No, thanks!

Additionally, steam from the shower can trigger humidity issues that are unsuitable for clothing storage. A moist walk-in closet? We’ll pass.

(Realtor.com)

When you first saw a vessel sink, did you do a double-take? This type of sink looks unique—and that’s appealing. But, at the risk of being a buzzkill, allow us to share that most of these basins have no overflow drain—that little hole that’s near the top of most sinks.

Should you leave the water running, walk away, and get distracted, the overflow drain will prevent a flood in your bathroom.

Another note about the vessel sink: It can be annoying to clean. And finally, if you have kids in the house, they might not be able to reach high enough to wash their hands without help.

(Realtor.com)

A barn door can be a great design solution for a small room. It allows you to take advantage of the space where the door would usually swing open. If you’re a homebuyer, however, be wary of listing photos that show a barn door on a bathroom.

Because a barn door hangs on the outside of the doorframe, it doesn’t settle snugly in the frame like a standard door does. It doesn’t close as securely, nor does it muffle sounds like most doors do. If the toilet has its own private enclosure, that’s a bit better, but it can still be quite a, umm, public way to do otherwise private activities.

(Realtor.com)

Speaking of privacy, you’ve heard of open-concept kitchens, but did you know there are open-concept bathrooms, too? At one time, they were seen mostly in exotic hotels and resorts, but bathtubs and showers that are open to the bedroom have been trending.

But before you fall for a home that has an open-concept bath, give it some thought.

Do you really want to step out of the tub, soaking wet, onto your bedroom floor? What if you or your partner is on a Zoom call while working from home while the other one is craving a nice, hot bath? Suffice it to say things that look fun in listing photos are not always fun in real life.

Sally Jones writes about home buying, decorating, and renovating. Her work has been published by Realtor.com, Family Handyman, ConsumerAffairs, Reader's Digest, Brit + Co, and MSN. See her kitchen and bath designs come to life on her blog, Renov8or.