How Do Luxury Home Theaters Raise The Value of a Home?

Don’t Lack The Necessities

“Necessity” is subjective, of course. You might need to have a wicked cool media room, but other families may not value it as much as you do. And while home buyers (and real estate agents) love unique touches like high-tech theaters, wine cellars, or a sauna, it doesn’t make any sense to add features like this unless you have the room available, and nothing else is lacking.

If your house doesn’t have enough bedrooms or bathrooms for a prospective new owner, then custom projects like this will actually deter the deal. However, if your place has unused space that is just begging to be converted and utilized, in this case, that will definitely add value to your home, according to lovable nerds the House Tech Guys. Especially if you’re renovating a previously unfinished area, like a basement or attic. 

Practical Magic

One way to give the return on investment a nudge up is to make sure a luxe theater perfectly fits your home’s overall style. If you’re rocking the modern farmhouse look until your buyers turn a corner and suddenly they’re in Howard Hughes’ private screening room, that’s going to cause some cognitive dissonance and bring your sale price down.

Your professional home theater installment team or a gifted interior designer can help you ensure that your luscious media room fits your family's needs - and your decor - while adding immense value. Additional entertainment space is always desirable in luxury homes. Make sure you gift yourself plenty of room to spread out, and perhaps even a wet bar or some taps of root beer and your favorite microbrews?

If the luxury theater you’ve always wanted is a tasteful addition to your home, that will appeal to a wider range of buyers.

Keeping Up with The Joneses

The estimable New York Times says the public is beginning to demand home theater options in new construction homes. It’s a high-end detail that was deeply appreciated during the pandemic when you couldn’t go to the movies at all.  The experts at Homes and Gardens agree. If you’re in a luxury, on-trend neighborhood, then many of the comparable properties in your area might already have a glamorous home theater or mind-blowing media room. In that case, not having one will cost you.

And of course, if the homes in your area have nothing at all like a fabulous custom home theater, then you may not see the asking price increase you were hoping for. If this is a concern, you may want to consult with your real estate agent.

Only The Best

Life is short. If you’ve always wanted a beautiful place to enjoy your favorite media with the highest quality audio and visual equipment, you should go for it. But your overall budget will determine exactly what kind of home theater setup you’ll end up with. 

In the NYT article mentioned above, the interviewed homeowner installed an ultra-high quality home theater and ended up receiving $250 more per square foot for his place than the comparable units in his building. You work hard, and your family deserves the best. To make sure you get the biggest home theater bang for your buck, be sure to do your research & meet with a professional home theater designer.

Invest in Tech

If you truly want the “night at the movies” experience in the comfort of your own home, then don’t skimp on the technology — or the decor. Why worry about a return on the investment if it brings immense happiness to you and your loved ones? Go on, you deserve it!

Over at HGTV, one of their home design pros recommends that you divide your luxury home

theater or media room into three equal parts:

• Visual
• Audio
• Room treatments

The screen you select plays a huge part in your project. With today’s technology, there are so many options, from touch screens to projectors to retractable art screens. Which one is best will depend on the other two factors. 

A home theater is just a room if you don’t invest in a worthy sound system. The feeling of an immersive sound experience, better than movie-theater quality sound, just can’t be beaten. You’ll be so much more pleased with the final result if you invest in the tech that provides stunning sound and arresting visual images. 

One last thing to consider is the room itself. Some spaces need a bit of acoustic tinkering to diffuse or reflect the sound correctly. Lighting is also a crucial element in your new home theater layout. The correct lighting will help you enjoy the room in many different ways and enhance that private cinema feel.

Seating is another important consideration. Do you want that stadium-style with raised flooring, or are lovely cozy couches more suitable for your family? Some homeowners go the whole hog and invest in spa-like chairs that offer heating and massage features. Whichever you prefer, this is your chance to build a unique, family-friendly space that you’ll enjoy, regardless of the return.

Conclusion

An unusual, high-end feature like a luxury home theater might not be to everyone’s taste, but it is a trend that’s increasing in popularity. Buyers who are searching for a new abode in exclusive neighborhoods are beginning to demand these high-tech hideaways.

Will it add value to your home? Probably! If you want to add an amazing media room or home cinema so you and your family can enjoy the things you love, the memories you’ll make together will be priceless!

Sources

• https://www.hgtv.com/design/remodel/interior-remodel/media-room-or-home-theater
• https://www.homesandgardens.com/news/does-a-home-theater-increase-home-value
• https://housetechguys.com
• https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/16/garden/would-a-home-theatre-increase-the-value-of-my-home.html