Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Property value with home theatre?

A home theater is an "up-market" feature that many buyers in the entry home market don't even consider. And when it comes with price premium, I have a distinct feeling most would rather do without. You have to sell to your market. People who can afford top pay the extra money will often go for a larger house or a different neighborhood -- unless that one-in-a-thousand buyer finds you.

This topic has come up in the past, and a number of people, myself included, had sold a house that had a home theater in it. It did pretty much nothing for the sale price of the house, but did help to sell the house faster.

So there is some value, but not as easy to figure out as you may think, and it will be no where near the amount you put into it.

I would just get items that you want to take with you, and build the room so that it can be used as something else if you are concerned about it.

To me, I know that I am not going to be at my current house for 20 years or anything, but if it was feasable with money and space, I would still build an awesome home theater as far as room construction, etc, even knowing that it wouldn't add much value outside of just finished square footage. Most buyers just don't know the value of the equipment, and it is a "perk" that they may want, but don't care to pay extra for. And those buyers that DO understand the value of it, most likely will have their own gear, or want something a little different anyway.

So, just buy some awesome gear, and never sell it!

We'll probably be in this house for quite a while and considered the resale issues prior to building our TV/music room and adding the pool but decided that happiness while living in the home should account for something ... for the short amount of time that both have been added to our home I must say the expenditure was well worth it regardless whether or not we'll ever recoup any of the cost in resale.

I like the comparison made in regards to a house with a pool. Some people want it while others don't.

I think that if there's a few similar houses in your area, and in the same price range it may be the deciding factor.

As for selling the equipement, I would only personally use this as a negotiating item. If I could get good value out of it sure, or for example less hassle of moving an older RPTV.

On the other side of it, I really couldn't see myself wanting to buy someone elses equipement. I would need to know what it is (recognize the name) know the age and value. Granted, there's tons of people out there who love HTIB and may see your set up and just want the house because of it.

Sounds like you have the newer version of my house! Very common in Calgary. I wouldn't consider 1500sqft a starter house. It is big enough for 2 kids to enter the picture soon. My wife and I bought our house thinking it large enough to handle our family dreams and it has so far(large pie shaped lot). The neighborhood influences your resale value more than anything else. Then lot size etc. whether or not your house has a home theater is too personal a choice for most buyers, as it has been my experience that they can't see the walls for the furniture sitting in front of them. If a prospective buyer doesn't like the way you have laid out your furniture in the room and it seems small to them you have lost them. Rearrange that same room with a more open feeling and now that buyer is happy. It seems that most just have no imagination to see what the room WILL be like with THEIR stuff in it. Ever watch those "Sell my house" shows on TV. Those people are the proof that alot of people have little vision to what a house could be.

Just remember a bigger house means more to clean and less time to enjoy the sweeter things in life, unless you get maid service.

Don't forget higher cost to heat/cool.
Higher taxes(bigger houses are usually valued higher).

I wish I would have bought a smaller house, 2400 sq/ft is a lot for 3 people. The game room which was supposed to be a home theater by now sits empty with a few odds and ends scattered about. Oh well it was a "starter" home as they say. I know exactly what to get the next time around.

>>Oh well it was a "starter" home as they say. I know exactly what to get the next time around.

2400 sqft a starter home? Do you live in Giant Land?

In any case, I am glad that I bought in calgary before the boom last year, then sold the condo, and upgraded to a house and almost put 21% down...

We bought at the right place a the right time last year.

We also went from puting 5% down, to 21% down...now I can practice my drums downstairs...then take a break and goto the theatre...

Man I can't wait until its all done!

-Hutz

Everything is bigger in Texas