Do buyers want a wet bar in the basement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We, like a lot of people we know, don’t drink so I wouldn’t care for it.

Ok, I'm going to assume you didn't mean to come the way you did and move on to....Huh? A wet bar is used for a lot of other things besides alcohol--as evidenced over and over on this thread. Do you drink water, soda, tea? Thats all that is stocked in ours, so it makes it easy for kids and basement overnight guests to grab drinks without shlepping up the stairs.

A wet bar, people, isn't "a place in your home to only drink alcohol." It is not a bar, it is a wet bar.

I'd worry more about adding a bathroom than a wet bar. Why can't we get water from the bathroom sink?

Well, so would I, but thats not the question is it? And you can certainly get water from a sink, though I was also thinking of water cans you'd like to get from the fridge.

[Anonymous]

Our wet bar is one of those things that came in very handy this past year. We have a sink, small fridge, and microwave.

Two of my kids set up in the basement for distance learning. I stocked a basket with snacks and they frequently heated up their lunches in the microwave.

I also keep a single serve Keurig in the basement for when we have family visiting. I have 2 relatives who wake up really early (5:00) and want a cup of coffee immediately, so the Keurig makes everyone happy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hate it when people entertain in the basement. It’s a kids zone only in my opinion.

It perplexes me when people have strong opinions about stuff like this. Like, do you have knowledge of all possible house configurations and family dynamics?

OP, I think it entirely depends on the house (although I agree with the comment about getting the rough in regardless). Is the basement the kind where you go down a narrow stairway and it's not well lit? Or does it have an independent door to the outdoors, a la some split level style houses, and some natural light? Can you honestly see meaningful socialization happening around the wet bar or would people have to go out of their way to get to it?

They are extremely popular in Michigan where my in laws are from and are used all the time -- it especially is helpful when it's on a floor with a big tv so that "the game" can be on and people can be socializing around that with drinks and snacks at hand, and others can be upstairs in the main kitchen/dining area without the din of the game on in the background. Or, when the basement has an independent entryway to the backyard or similar and so people don't have to traipse up and down to the kitchen (tracking dirt and sand and stuff) to get food and drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only thing I like about a wet bar is if I end up using the basement as a guest space. Then I can give them a coffee maker and some drinks.

this

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, thank you. Who on earth wants to socialize in a basement??? Basement are useless except for storage.

My basement is a walk-out into the pool. There's a wet-bar (not really used for drinking) with a sink, cabinets, and a fridge. We intentionally put that in so that the kids could run in and out. Also with the kids being virtual--basement has been turned into their study area. We do entertain in the basement. It received lots of usage for friends (pre-covid), family recreation (TV), and just general lounging. Your comment seems very odd but to each their own.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We, like a lot of people we know, don’t drink so I wouldn’t care for it.

Ok, I'm going to assume you didn't mean to come the way you did and move on to....Huh? A wet bar is used for a lot of other things besides alcohol--as evidenced over and over on this thread. Do you drink water, soda, tea? Thats all that is stocked in ours, so it makes it easy for kids and basement overnight guests to grab drinks without shlepping up the stairs.

A wet bar, people, isn't "a place in your home to only drink alcohol." It is not a bar, it is a wet bar.

I'd worry more about adding a bathroom than a wet bar. Why can't we get water from the bathroom sink?

Well, so would I, but thats not the question is it? And you can certainly get water from a sink, though I was also thinking of water cans you'd like to get from the fridge.

I would think if it's a new build and they're even considering a wet bar - they probably already have a bathroom in the plans.

[Anonymous]

Love our wet bar. We have family and friends visit all the time and it comes in handy. At least do rough in for later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, thank you. Who on earth wants to socialize in a basement??? Basement are useless except for storage.

This is not a typical viewpoint. A finished basement was a must have for us as buyers (not with a wet bar but it wouldn’t have been an issue if it did have one) because we wanted to use it as a bonus kid space and exercise space. I envision it being where our girls bring friends over and hang out!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We, like a lot of people we know, don’t drink so I wouldn’t care for it.

Ok, I'm going to assume you didn't mean to come the way you did and move on to....Huh? A wet bar is used for a lot of other things besides alcohol--as evidenced over and over on this thread. Do you drink water, soda, tea? Thats all that is stocked in ours, so it makes it easy for kids and basement overnight guests to grab drinks without shlepping up the stairs.

A wet bar, people, isn't "a place in your home to only drink alcohol." It is not a bar, it is a wet bar.

+1

People here are so weird. And if I loved everything else about a house I can’t imagine not putting in an offer bc there’s a wet bar in the basement.

My basement doesn’t have one, and it’s fine with me, but these reactions are just bizarre.

[Anonymous]

Wet Bars haven’t been a thing in 20 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wet Bars haven’t been a thing in 20 years.

Find me a single new build in McLean or Bethesda around 2million or so that doesn’t have a wet bar.

[Anonymous]

Entertaining in a basement with wetbar, projection tv, dance floor, extra bedroom. office, full bathroom, fire place and tons of seating, poker table/pool table is such a done thing in my social circle. Oh, also a whole karaoke setup.

We all entertain big. At least 35-60 people, every 2 months of so.

I see no use for it though for people who do not entertain on that scale.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wet Bars haven’t been a thing in 20 years.

Find me a single new build in McLean or Bethesda around 2million or so that doesn’t have a wet bar.

McMansion filler that I’ve yet to see anyone use in 30 years, which isn’t surprising because hard liquor sales have been declining over a similar time period.

Boomers are getting older, drinking less, the richest Millennials just discovered Scotch and are pretending to like it, and Gen Z drinks even less. I doubt wet bar is even a top 20 category in Houzz.

At least you can argue those extra bathrooms are for entertaining, but there’s diminishing returns after the 5th bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Entertaining in a basement with wetbar, projection tv, dance floor, extra bedroom. office, full bathroom, fire place and tons of seating, poker table/pool table is such a done thing in my social circle. Oh, also a whole karaoke setup.

We all entertain big. At least 35-60 people, every 2 months of so.

I see no use for it though for people who do not entertain on that scale.

All those sound reasonable and desirable to somebody. A bar full of beer and wine sure. But at that size wouldn’t you be better served with:

1. Another kitchen especially if outdoors.

2. A fridge with an icemaker

3. A dishwasher.

Basically anything but a singular sink (wet).

[Anonymous]

https://upgradedhome.com/are-wet-bars-outdated/