Although installing a home theater can certainly boost the property value of your home, this should not be the primary motiviating factor for you and your family. Rather, focus on the personal benefits of having a theater. Any additional advantages should be viewed as icing on the cake.
Room Additions: Home Theater
Watching movies in the theater is a very different experience from watching them in a family room. The lights, curtains, build-up, audience, and stadium seating all add to the magic. However, at $10 per ticket plus an additional $15 per person for refreshments, treating the entire family to a night at the movies can become prohibitively expensive over time. When you do a cost-benefit analysis over 10 years for a family of four, adding a custom-designed home theater begins to make a lot of sense.
How Much Does a Home Theater Addition Cost?
How much you spend is really a matter of personal taste and physical space. To convert an existing room into a bona fide theater, complete with a basic projector and screen can cost as little as $20K. This baseline figure typically includes surround sound and professional installation. If you really want to add those nice finishing touches, including velvet curtains, upholstered suede seats, high resolution displays, and high fidelity audio equipment, you can easily spend anywhere from $50K to $100K and up. Or if you want to cut costs as much as possible, simply convert your living room or den into a more functional entertainment center. In most cases, the biggest expense will be the TV and couch.
Resale Value of a Home Theater
The resale value will ultimately depend on who is doing the buying. If your successor is not a cinema fan, then good luck. And in most cases, the major pieces of equipment (displays, projectors, speakers) travel with you to your next destination. So while installing a home theater may potentially boost the overall value of your home, this should not be the primary motivator for any additions you intend to make. Focus on what a home theater can do for you and your family. Any property value increase down the road is merely icing on the cake.
