I need advice. My husband and I live in a 3 bedroom 1-1/2 bathroom home, and are looking to remodel our master bathroom; an 8'-6" x 4'-4" half bath with one sink. We have the space to either have a half bath with a dual vanity and some extra storage, or reconfigure to add a small shower but only have a small single-sink vanity. Keeping it a half bath would require only additional plumbing for the one added sink, while upgrading to a 3/4 bath would require a new shower drain and relocating the toilet. Which option would give us the best return? Would we ever see the money back from the much more extensive plumbing relocations, to end up with a very tight 3/4 bath that, realistically, only one person could be in at a time?

As far as the numbers go for selling your house, a 2-1/2 bath will look better than a 1 + 2 half baths. However, figuring the return only makes sense if you decide to sell. If you are planning on selling soon, then I would do nothing - you will not get your remodel dollar back. If you are going to stay put for five years then do whatever works best for you - decide if you need that shower more than the extra sink. The time in-between is a grey area but if you are not currently actively selling then I would remodel to suit yourself.

are you going to pad down the hall or down the stairs to shower before work every day? even with guests?

steal some space if you have to, but at minimum you need a toilet, sink, and shower in a master. otherwise, it does not qualify.

what's your floor plan? do you have a layout where the master and bath are together at the end of a hall, with doors and all? knock out the appropriate non-load-bearing walls, have one exit from the bedroom to the hall, and you may have stolen enough waste space to do the bath right. even better if you have a baby hall closet in between, you can find another space to put the loose junk and spare blankets, maybe in a hope chest, maybe in the crawl space, maybe at the thrift shop.

scratch out some alternative plans and see if you can get even one more foot into the bathroom.