Home Gym Quarterly Fall 2020

Does A Home Gym Affect Your Home’s Value?

A home gym can affect the value of a home either negatively or positively, depending on a number of factors. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the shutting down of gyms and fitness centers across the country and globally. This closure has driven more people to purchase weights, treadmills, stationary bikes and other gym equipment to maintain their exercise regimen while staying indoors.

So, How Does A Home Gym Affect the Value of Your Home?

A well-designed home gym will set the home apart from other properties and significantly increase its value in the market. People are becoming more health conscious than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic and having a set aside fitness space in a prospective home may increase its attractiveness to health conscious buyers.

On the other hand, a poorly fitted home gym will considerably lower the home’s value. Here are some things to consider:

Do You Have Space?

In a majority of cases, extra office space or an additional bedroom is likely to provide more value as compared to a gym. However, if the home already has enough bedrooms and an office, then converting the available room into a gym will provide more value to the property. If you don’t have additional space in the property, you can always convert a room into a gym and then stage it later as an office or bedroom when you want to sell it. If you find yourself in such a situation, it is recommended that you safeguard the room from any wear and tear, which may occur from using the room as a gym.

Adequate Ventilation and Flooring

Install rubber mats to protect your floor from dents or scuffs. Poorly ventilated gym rooms over time may also develop an unpleasant odor. Thus, you should consider purchasing an air-conditioning unit for the room.

Ask A Real Estate Expert

Local realtors can tell from their previous sales whether a home gym will increase or decrease the value of your home. If you are planning to put your home up for sale in a few years and only need the home gym because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that you consult with a local real estate expert before you decide to convert one of your rooms into a home gym. At the very least, consider putting your home gym in the garage or an external building if you’re nervous about converting a spare room into a home gym. Hygiene issues, hidden memberships costs, self-consciousness and long waits for equipment all make public gyms unattractive places to exercise and stay healthy. Driving to and from the commercial gyms several times in a week can be a daunting task – and at times, it can affect an individual’s consistency in working out and staying healthy. Having a gym at home reduces the chances that one will use excuses to avoid or skip workout sessions and carries less risk of disease infection.