Investing in Housing Characteristics that Count: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis of Bathrooms, Bathroom Additions, and Residential Satisfaction

This article examined how bathrooms (and half-bathrooms) were associated with the self reported satisfaction of residents in comparison to bedrooms, other rooms, overall size, and the presence of such amenities as a dishwasher, disposal, fireplace, balcony/patio, and garage. Cross-tabulations, ordinary least squares, and cumulative logit analyses of data from the 2005 American Housing Survey demonstrated a particularly strong positive relationship between residential satisfaction and the number of bathrooms, greater than for any other housing characteristic measured. A “before and after” longitudinal analysis of homes with remodeling occurring between 1997 and 2005 also revealed a significant positive impact of bathroom additions on the satisfaction of residents. These results appear consistent with housing theoiy suggesting that privacy and control are major components of residential satisfaction.