Hey folks,

So I have a quandry, a question, a problem, a dilemma, a predicament, um I can't think of any more... and was wondering what you would do. My wife and I moved into our current home about three years ago and have set aside a nice space for the home theater. Just this last weekend we were talking about the future, and are thinking of moving in about 5 years. (If I had to put odds on the move right now I'd say 60% that we move.)

Knowing that we may move in five years, I'm having a tough time deciding what to do with the home theater space. I want to get started this Winter, but it will take me at least a year (maybe even two!) to finish the space, just due to time constraints and my snail-like working speed (actually I think snails work faster - you know how quickly they make that slime trail?)

I've been working on my current plans, but now I'm having a hard time deciding how/what to build. Stage, risers, DD+GG, dedicated HVAC, etc... all that is in the current plan, but if I only will get two or three years of use out of it, is all that worth it?

What would you guys do? :confused:

It would seem that 3 years of enjoyment is better than 5 years of twiddling your thumbs and dreaming about a theater that never was.

Just pay attention to your expenses and how marketable the added finished space will be in your build out design. I would avoid a themed theater but go for a refined simple professional look. Not sure a dedicated HVAC would be appreciated. I wouldn't install pricey in-walls that can't easily be swapped out for cheaper speakers assuming you might want to take them with you. Keep your projector under $5000. It will be obsolete in 5 years.

And who knows 5 could stretch to 8, 9, 10. Plans change.

There is a part of me that appreciates the just hang the projector approach, and mask the unfinished basement part:

http://members.shaw.ca/BJOTF/sc23.jpg

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14917566

EDIT - I can pretty much expect to move every 5-7 years in my career. My last move came a little early, which meant I had to rush to finish my theater, to sell it to some one else. It was a real drag, I must say. Going the extra mile for sound proofing and theater effects wound up being a good bit of sunk costs. As a family, we have other priorities for a while, so I am benched when it comes to starting the next project. When I start again, it will be 6-12 of build for hopefully more than one month of enjoyment - but most likely only 24-48 months tops.

There are times when I think I am better off just hanging a 65" plasma in the family room and calling it a day. That said, I will probably do it again, but I am leaning towards a design where I can take stuff I won't ever be paid for (e.g. accoustic treatments) with me, rather than a built in approach. Tough one.

Something to think about. In this challenging real estate market around the corner from me a house went on the market this summer at what I thought was 25% over the prevailing market value for similar homes. It had a nicely finished basement and what I thought was a slightly below average dedicated home theater. No acoustical treatments.

It sold the first weekend during their open house at the full asking price.

Some interesting thoughts guys, thanks. I can feel the 'theater that never was' issue already eating at me, so something has to be done in that space for sure.

Before you commit to building out a dedicated theater space, I would sit down and try to figure out the odds that the next purchaser will want to re-purpose this space for some other use. Might the next owners want an extra bedroom? A family room? A playroom for the kids? A lot will depend on the configuration of the rest of the house. My theory is that a dedicated theater improves the marketability of a house in which the other living and bedroom spaces are good. If, on the other hand, the house really needs another bedroom and you've already built that space out as a home theater, then the theater won't help -- and might hurt -- the home's marketability.

You might also consider whether a combination theater/game room/bar would be more marketable. I suspect this kind of multipurpose space may be more attractive to the majority of people. For examples of this kind of a space, check out the Fog Valley Cinema here on the Dedicated Theater Forum, and Dinger's Sports Bar over on the General Home Theater Forum.

Finally, I would think about making the main features of the room removable or reversible. Use window plugs instead of removing the windows. Build the stage and riser on top of the carpet and fill them with insulation instead of sand. Use freestanding or onwall speakers instead of inwalls.

Something to think about. In this challenging real estate market around the corner from me a house went on the market this summer at what I thought was 25% over the prevailing market value for similar homes. It had a nicely finished basement and what I thought was a slightly below average dedicated home theater. No acoustical treatments.

It sold the first weekend during their open house at the full asking price.

Wow, I didn't think anyone anywhere was getting asking price these days...

Hey folks,

So I have a quandry, a question, a problem, a dilemma, a predicament, um I can't think of any more... and was wondering what you would do. My wife and I moved into our current home about three years ago and have set aside a nice space for the home theater. Just this last weekend we were talking about the future, and are thinking of moving in about 5 years. (If I had to put odds on the move right now I'd say 60% that we move.)

Knowing that we may move in five years, I'm having a tough time deciding what to do with the home theater space. I want to get started this Winter, but it will take me at least a year (maybe even two!) to finish the space, just due to time constraints and my snail-like working speed (actually I think snails work faster - you know how quickly they make that slime trail?)

I've been working on my current plans, but now I'm having a hard time deciding how/what to build. Stage, risers, DD+GG, dedicated HVAC, etc... all that is in the current plan, but if I only will get two or three years of use out of it, is all that worth it?

What would you guys do? :confused:

I did this exact same thing with every home project at our last house (my first home, and the one my wife and I first shared after marriage). She'd want to drop big bucks on this improvement or that makeover and I'd say "but we're not going to be staying at this house forever...let's do that kind of big, expensive thing at the next house". And sure enough, just about the time I got off my butt to work on turning our basement into my first HT, an unforseen move popped up.

Now, even though we've only been in our current house for about 2.5 years, we already know we're going to likely move in another 2 or so. But my wife, bless her, won't let me fall back on that old excuse; there's always another, or an unforseen in our future and...not to get philosophical or zen...it's about the journey and not the destination.

Build it, enjoy it, and what happens...happens. :D

CD

On that note, My house went under agreement within 30 days of listing, there were 3 other identical houses (except the basement) on at the same time as mine, one with a finished basement (no HT, no bath). My unit had a lot of interest, it had two offers. One buyer really wasn't qualified, so I couldn't get a bidding war going. In the end, the price was such that I recovered about 60% of my investment in the basement. Which is in line with averages for basement remodels. I am convinced in a better market I would have gotten at least 80% of my investment back.

As for the other three houses. One sold 4 months after mine (~7 months on the market). The other two are still on, one has been on for 15 months now. The other is at about 9 months (I think). So despite poor pricing power, the HT got my unit SOLD.

Before you commit to building out a dedicated theater space, I would sit down and try to figure out the odds that the next purchaser will want to re-purpose this space for some other use. Might the next owners want an extra bedroom? A family room? A playroom for the kids? A lot will depend on the configuration of the rest of the house. My theory is that a dedicated theater improves the marketability of a house in which the other living and bedroom spaces are good. If, on the other hand, the house really needs another bedroom and you've already built that space out as a home theater, then the theater won't help -- and might hurt -- the home's marketability.

You might also consider whether a combination theater/game room/bar would be more marketable. I suspect this kind of multipurpose space may be more attractive to the majority of people. For examples of this kind of a space, check out the Fog Valley Cinema here on the Dedicated Theater Forum, and Dinger's Sports Bar over on the General Home Theater Forum.

Finally, I would think about making the main features of the room removable or reversible. Use window plugs instead of removing the windows. Build the stage and riser on top of the carpet and fill them with insulation instead of sand. Use freestanding or onwall speakers instead of inwalls.

I agree in general, in your idea of how a dedicated space can impact property values. Thankfully we have plenty of space, and this room is specifically for the theater. The theater may not (likely will not) be a positive, but won't be a negative.

...

Build it, enjoy it, and what happens...happens. :D

CD



You guys are all so great. :)

I also say build it -- but don't make it TOO specialized (ie: all black with permanent fixtures, etc.)

I, too, built a HT (2.0) in my NY basement -- I totally refinished about a 1200sqft area, added a bathroom, laundry room, walled off the mechanical room, and, of course, a HT room.

Everyone that came through LOVED the dedicated HT/basement -- it was something that wasn't typical up there.

My house sold for very close to my asking price in 3 weeks (typical market time up there is 6 months...and that was before the downturn). I recouped around 80-85% of my basement cost.

Do it. :D

I'd say build it but watch expenses. Go basic and not too specialized or themed so as to appeal to potential buyers.

As Dave said, this may well be a key differentiator in getting the house sold quickly, if needed.

Get the enjoyment out of it.

CJ

OK, quit reading this thread and run down to HD so that you can put in two full days of building this weekend.

Hey folks,

So I have a quandry, a question, a problem, a dilemma, a predicament, um I can't think of any more... and was wondering what you would do. My wife and I moved into our current home about three years ago and have set aside a nice space for the home theater. Just this last weekend we were talking about the future, and are thinking of moving in about 5 years. (If I had to put odds on the move right now I'd say 60% that we move.)

Knowing that we may move in five years, I'm having a tough time deciding what to do with the home theater space. I want to get started this Winter, but it will take me at least a year (maybe even two!) to finish the space, just due to time constraints and my snail-like working speed (actually I think snails work faster - you know how quickly they make that slime trail?)

I've been working on my current plans, but now I'm having a hard time deciding how/what to build. Stage, risers, DD+GG, dedicated HVAC, etc... all that is in the current plan, but if I only will get two or three years of use out of it, is all that worth it?

What would you guys do? :confused:
If you are going to move in the next 5 years, I would save the time, money, design and agony of trying to do room isolation techniques. That alone would save you hundreds of hours, $1000's of dallors, and lots of agravation. The reality is that sound isolating your room, you won't get much ROI on, so you might as well spend the money and time on stuff that you will enjoy, and will receive some ROI on as well. Not to mention it'll be a quicker means to the end.

I will be doing the exact same thing, but I'm not 100% sold that a dedicated HT is the way to go in this situation. More of a multi purpose room with extra soundproofing is the way I think I'll go.

I think if you have the extra square footage, sure go for it. Myself... the finished basement will put me around 1800-1900. The space needs to be more universal for potential buyers. At least in my price range.

If you are going to move in the next 5 years, I would save the time, money, design and agony of trying to do room isolation techniques. That alone would save you hundreds of hours, $1000's of dallors, and lots of agravation. The reality is that sound isolating your room, you won't get much ROI on, so you might as well spend the money and time on stuff that you will enjoy, and will receive some ROI on as well. Not to mention it'll be a quicker means to the end.

See... I think it would work the other way. I'm in a townhouse and I truly think the added advantage of a room with extra isolation will be a huge selling feature.

Where as columns and bass traps really won't appeal to the masses.

I debated about doing a dedicated space. But for me:

1. I plan to be here a long time
2. Everything in the room will be removable, including the columns and such, without damage to the dry wall, so it won't take much effort to change the room to server another purpose.
3. My specific design calls for one row of HT seating and a row with a bar and stools, so the room will also function as a game day room.
4. I have the square footage as I am still adding two other rooms in the basement, plus I have a large space on the other two floors.

But that's my specific needs.

I think everyone has valid points, but if you do it right, you can easily make the space convertible with little effort. Just make everything you put on the walls removable, and you'll be good to go. If you decide to put in a riser and stage, just put them in after you put the sub flooring down, and don't fill them with sand - use the corner tube method as bass traps.

See... I think it would work the other way. I'm in a townhouse and I truly think the added advantage of a room with extra isolation will be a huge selling feature.

Where as columns and bass traps really won't appeal to the masses.

Townhouse is another matter entirely, and those types of features (sound isolation) is a huge buyer incentive. However, in a home, spending money behind the walls is not going to entice buyers as much as seeing nice lights, carpet, molding, maybe even a screen wall that has nice acoustical properties. then you can negotiate that stuff into the sale if the people are interested, and if not you simply pack it up and take your money with you, and leave them a room they only have to do minor things to.

I look at a sound-isolated room the same way as I look at a pool when it comes to the sale of a home. It's really a niche idea that some will like, some will not like, and the majority won't care one way or the other.

I would definitely insulate the walls, because that's cheap. I might even add a second layer of drywall because again, this stuff will not add significant cost. however, I would not get into GG, reslient clips, floating walls and such because they increase the build factor significantly.

I can get drywall costs 23 cents a sq. ft. unfaced R-11 costs 23 cents a sq. ft. That's pretty cheap. If you begin adding anything beyond that, you begin to add at a rate of more than $1/ sq. ft.

There is a part of me that appreciates the just hang the projector approach, and mask the unfinished basement part:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14917566

EDIT - I can pretty much expect to move every 5-7 years in my career. My last move came a little early, which meant I had to rush to finish my theater, to sell it to some one else. It was a real drag, I must say. Going the extra mile for sound proofing and theater effects wound up being a good bit of sunk costs. As a family, we have other priorities for a while, so I am benched when it comes to starting the next project. When I start again, it will be 6-12 of build for hopefully more than one month of enjoyment - but most likely only 24-48 months tops.

There are times when I think I am better off just hanging a 65" plasma in the family room and calling it a day. That said, I will probably do it again, but I am leaning towards a design where I can take stuff I won't ever be paid for (e.g. accoustic treatments) with me, rather than a built in approach. Tough one.

Stop following me! :D

There's no reason to spend months and months and months on a build, unless there money is a limiting factor (of course that's a personal matter and/or another conversation entirely), or time is going to be really limited. I know of friends who made their HT build a family affair and it ended up being some of the best time spent with their kids and wife. Just gotta make it count =).

Start to finish for me, less than 4 months (that's the plan). Although I've been thinking about it since we moved into the house 2 1/2 years ago. But what it will take a focused effort and some dedicated weekends from myself and a few friends.

OK, quit reading this thread and run down to HD so that you can put in two full days of building this weekend.

This made me laugh, thanks. :D

I can't yet, I have a pretty big list of projects before the theater. We literally built the house, except for the little things like concrete, framing, roofing, and siding, so I still have some "finishing" projects. No baseboard yet, some windows still need trim, the deck doesn't have a railing (that is this weekend's project). I'm hoping to get the theater started this Winter, mid-Feb I hope.

Thanks again everyone for your thoughts.