Appletini, Your new bath looks great! I love the color on the walls and your tile work. We, too, are now in the middle of a remodel/addition. We are adding on a master suite. Like you, I choose the Delta Victorian faucets, handles, etc. for the bath. But I choose the bright chrome color. We are in week 10 of a "8 to 10" week project, but I know we still have two more weeks at least! Can't wait to get my life back to normal. Glad to hear it does actually come to an end. Enjoy your new bath!

We generally prefer historical cost basis over any time of assessment, so what you paid for an item. However, one problem with the historical cost basis for ad valorem taxes is it adjusts for realized gains and losses while not adjusting for holding gains and losses. This means that two identical houses would pay two different taxes based on the last time they were sold. This isn't quite fair so to remedy this, ad valorem taxes are occasionally adjusted to compensate somewhat for holding gains and losses. In other words, we don't want people who bought 3 acres next to Central Park 65 years ago, to be paying property taxes on $100,000 when an identical property next door pays taxes on $15,000,000. That is the entire purpose of adjusting property values. Improvements aren't simply holding gains, it is putting money into the structure so that it is nicer. If you want to fairly tax improvements you would need a tax on the increased value less a tax credit the amount paid over the marginal assessment value. So, the premise that you have some moral obligation to pay marginally higher taxes because you spent $50,000 for a nicer kitchen that adds only $20,000 to the property value, is one I find questionable. In other words, if you paid more for the remodel than it added in property value you should get a tax credit against the increase. However, that is far too complicated and thus taxing jurisdictions who are acting efficiently and attempting to be fair, avoid increasing valuation for improvements and replacements, but do increase valuation for additions. Now this is completely different than rules that allow select groups to avoid assessment for holding gains and losses.

Remodeling Magazine publishes a Remodel Cost Vs. Value Report each year which includes cost data for a variety of different remodeling projects organized by regions across the U.S. For your region, their data indicate a $21K cost to remodel a 5' x 7' bath at a mid-range quality level. Your master bath is larger and presumably you'd want a higher quality level, too. Here's a link to the online report: https://www.remodeling.hw.net/cost-vs-value/bathroom-remodel?y=2019 If you want to forgo a shower door, our rule of thumb is that you'll need at least 5 ft from the shower head that is protected with tile or glass. I don't see how you're going to achieve that based on your current plan. In addition to its effect on your vanity, splashing creates a slip/fall hazard in the area between the shower and toilet. Regarding your question whether eliminating the tub will torpedo your home's resale value, the answer is that it depends. It depends on 1.) consumer preferences in your local market, and 2.) the demographics of the most likely purchasers of your home. Best wishes for a successful project!

Thanks for the additional comments! There really is no room to make the door wider as the 2 closets are adjacent to the bathroom (basically there is a short hall from the bedroom with walk-in closets on each side. The bathroom door is basically as wide as that hall will allow (given 3.5" trim on either side of the door). I'm not sure about removing the water closet - guessing my husband would not approve :). However, I will not rule it out. I just would not want it to negatively affect resale down the road (all houses in the neighborhood have the water closet). I actually have a vanity mirror attached to the wall from the previous owners - I really don't wear a lot of makeup so don't really use it. Mascara, blush, eye shadow - that's it! I"m torn about the free-standing versus drop-in tub. I really love the look of the free-standing but I'm leaning towards the drop-in due to the various pros/cons listed in various threads. Thanks!