Do buyers want a wet bar in the basement?

[Anonymous]

We are building now and didn’t include one.

We would never base entertaining out of the basement. My other thought is I don’t want to full on encourage my kids making food and eating in the basement. Guess who would get to nag them to clean that up or worse I might not see some kind of mess and it would sit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is an interesting history locally of basement bars that were a thing because of segregation. But imo unless your basement walks out to a pool area, I don't understand the point of them at all except if you want your teens to be drunk in the basement. Why on earth would you have guests over and then be like, "The living room is not for you. Come to the basemen

Because we have a huge TV to watch movies and eat and drink there. We love and use our basement, bar, and bathroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Civilized people entertain on main floors with windows. Basements are for the middle class living on small lots.

They’re also for rich Russian oligarchs to put tennis courts, swimming pools, spas, wine cellars, and yet another basement.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Oh, that's a nice thought. I really do long for a guest suite where folks can have more privacy. That sounds more like a kitchenette than a wet bar, I think? But whatever it is - yes, I would pay more if the basement were set up for a guest suite.

This--think of a wet bar as a kitchenette minus the stove/oven. Mine has coffeemaker, toaster, mini-fridge (the kind with a tiny freezer with separate door), small sink. It's maybe 6-8' long--countertop, cabinets above, drawers/fridge/cabinets below.

[Anonymous]

I would remove it.

[Anonymous]

Can we all just stop, for a minute, and reflect on how gross the term "Wet Bar" is???

Ok. Thank you.

Continue on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Hard liquor sales have increased every year over the last decade. Here’s evidence, but that’s obvious to anyone who goes out to bars and restaurants with friends or entertains in their homes instead of staying home and looking at Houzz. Not sure how you didn’t notice.
Spirits grow market share for 10th straight year
https://www.bevindustry.com/articles/92981-spirits-grow-market-share-for-10th-straight-year

[Anonymous]

Yes OP. It will add value to your basement in the DMV. Make sure it’s a kitchenette.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I guess you’ve been living under a rock then if you haven’t seen them used in 30y because this one was built last year and has a real wet bar... https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/1241-Kurtz-Rd_MC-Lean_VA_22101_M64238-21430

[Anonymous]

OP, we built a new home and actually put a wet bar in our master suite, which is used daily. I have a hot water dispenser and a small fridge.

We intentionally didn't put a wet bar in the basement, as we put in a second kitchen down there, also used constantly.

And on our main floor we put in a full working bar for entertaining. That also gets used quite a bit.

I say, put it in!

[Anonymous]

I’m really confused why everyone is conflating a wet bar with alcohol and also acting as if it’s presence would mean you entertain exclusive and extensively in the basement. (Also, a wet bar doesn’t include any sort of bar top for seating. That’s an additional thing people put on.)

I’d think a wet bar (to be clear: a small counter, sink, cabinets, and mini-fridge...sometimes with other things thrown in) would be a common sense nice addition in a basement that gets any use.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bars inside of homes are SOOOOOOOOOOO tacky.

Nothing more but a giant PITA to remove. Who drinks that much booze that you need a bar inside of your house. What is this, the 1960s and Goodfellas? God bars suck in homes.

Love 'em. Goodfellas is one of the great films of the 20th century. Maybe you could learn something from it.

+1

Love my indoor basement wet bar as well as my outdoor wet bar by the pool. Maybe I'm tacky, but I have fun parties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're building new construction on our lot and thinking about getting a wet bar in the fully finished basement. We've never had one before and don't exactly see too much use for it since it's not a "thing" where we're coming from. But it seems very common in this area and we wanted to add one if it's something that potential future buyers would consider valuable. Is it? Do you use your wet bars often? Space is not an issue.

I would prefer not to have a wet bar. What a waste of space.

[Anonymous]

What’s wrong with having some bar seating? Whenever we entertain, people always immediate take the bar seats on the bar we have on our covered porch and our island seating before our other, arguably much more comfortable furniture. I think that type of seating leads to easy conversation and a more laid-back atmosphere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We're building new construction on our lot and thinking about getting a wet bar in the fully finished basement. We've never had one before and don't exactly see too much use for it since it's not a "thing" where we're coming from. But it seems very common in this area and we wanted to add one if it's something that potential future buyers would consider valuable. Is it? Do you use your wet bars often? Space is not an issue.

I would prefer not to have a wet bar. What a waste of space.

For you, maybe. But OP was asking generally. Besides some, who seem hilariously anti-wet bar, most seem to get a lot of use out of theirs—if not personally, but for their kids and guests.