Do buyers want a wet bar in the basement?

[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.

They've always been attractive to me for this reason also, along with having a snack area for kids. Lately we've been looking at houses that can accommodate an in-law suite situation and we're zeroing in on any that have a walk-out basement with a wet bar since they have the power and plumbing ready to go to be able to add a full kitchen.

[Anonymous]

We use ours all the time. We have a sink and a fridge with an ice maker. Sodas, beer, and bottled water go in the fridge. We like to have an assortment of beer to choose from and this way we can keep a bunch cold without losing space in our main fridge.

We use our basement for family game nights and there's a TV for the kids to hang out. Other friends put a wine fridge in theirs -- they don't hang out there but it's a place to store their extra wine, plus a sink if necessary.

[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 don't drink alcohol nor does my husband. So, for me it would be a turn off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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

Mancave! You want DH and all his friends in the family room watching football?

At the very least OP, put the rough-ins for plumbing and electric.. but at that point you might as well put in a simple wet bar.

So cheesy

[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 don't drink alcohol nor does my husband. So, for me it would be a turn off.

Since when is a wet bar only usable for alcohol?

[Anonymous]

We have a basement with 9’ ceilings and a lot of light, and put in a small wet bar. It’s not my favorite place to entertain, but nice to have the extra space when we have lots of family or friends over (or used to). We also have a full suite down there, so nice for longer term guests to have a place for a nightcap or coffee without having to come upstairs.

Also just nice having more storage and an extra, albeit small, fridge for water, pop, and such in addition to our kitchen and storage one.

[Anonymous]

For me, the ones that are set up like an actual bar are a detraction, because they take up a lot of space and it's not really how I entertain. We mostly use our basement as kid hangout space, and it's nice having a lot of open space. I can, however, see big benefits in having an extra fridge (or mini fridge, or wine fridge) down there for beverages, as well as a sink and dishwasher. And definitely a plus if you have a guest room in the basement, as you could use the area for snacks, coffee, sodas, etc. for guest.

I'd probably be hesitant to keep alcohol other than wine down there, though, as my kids got older.

[Anonymous]

My ILs have a wet bar set up as a kitchenette for their basement guest suite and that's attractive. Key features are mini fridge, sink, dishwasher if possible, kitchen-style stone countertop, good lighting, and cabinets for dishware and small appliances.

If it's just a dark wood bar with a sink and liquor shelves, that screams frat house.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

I'm not a big fan of them. If it's small and out of the way, with no more than maybe a fridge, wine fridge, sink, small counter, and some room for bottle storage, that might be useful. But some of the wet bars I've seen look more like mini-kitchens, and I'd rather have the space than a second kitchen.

[Anonymous]

I have young kids so when I see them its a big minus. Its part of a basement the kids can't play in and I can't leave them downstairs alone (they'd turn on the sink and start making a mess playing in the water).

[Anonymous]

I would love it. My basement only bathroom sink.

[Anonymous]

I would not want a wet bar, but would welcome the plumbing / infrastructure to make an in-law/au pair Suite later

[Anonymous]

Who socializes in a basement? Well we throw all of our kid birthday parties in the basement/back yard and it's used a lot then. Everyone runs in an out from the birthday activities in the yard to the buffet of food we set up in the basement. Our basement is huge though and has a big walk out to the yard. We can set up long tables to eat at (summer birthdays, adults don't want to be outside). It wouldn't make sense to host birthday parties on our first floor. We have ours set up more as a bar/ kitchenette. Less alcohol on display (because it's a kid area!). We also thought the wet bar/kitchenette would be useful in case if our parents ever moved in or we had a live in nanny. Then it could be more of an inlaw suite downstairs.

[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.

Honestly, I know many wetbars that are also called kitchenettes. They are VERY close in features. Get a wet bar, throw in a fridge and a hotpot and you have a kitchenette.