Professional home cinema
High house prices, steep mortgage rates and economic uncertainty have all meant fewer people are moving home. Indeed, home moves reportedly fell to a record low in the first half of 2023, with more people instead choosing to improve their existing property.
One improvement that has been growing in popularity is the home cinema. Blending luxury entertainment with practicality, a home cinema is a great way to enjoy a more immersive and engaging viewing experience, whether you’re watching the big game with friends or streaming the latest blockbuster with your family. When well designed and professionally installed, it also delivers property value enhancement, making your house more attractive to buyers. Here, we analyse the financial and lifestyle benefits of investing in a home theatre.
Financial benefits of a home cinema investment
For film enthusiasts, installing a home cinema might be a no-brainer purely for the audio-visual quality it delivers. But there are specific financial advantages to the investment too.
- Increased property value
A professional home cinema installation can add value to your home when the time comes to sell. A dedicated home theatre created by a specialist typically costs between £10,000 and £30,000. Research suggests that it can add 65% of its value (between £6,500 and £19,500) to your home immediately, while other surveys suggest that buyers will pay between an extra 0.9% for the addition of a home theatre.
Of course, the actual value added is influenced by a range of factors including the property’s location and the expectations of buyers. In areas and price bands where a home cinema is more common, this addition can boost a house’s value by more than in areas where it’s not a prevalent feature.
- Market differentiation
A unique feature like a home cinema room sets your property apart from others in a competitive real estate market. A property with a basement conversion, for example, that has been turned into a luxury home entertainment space is more desirable than a house with a cellar space that would require renovation in order to become habitable. Many buyers seek homes that need little to no improvement work, so the clever use of an otherwise underutilised space makes your property attractive.
- Long-term savings
Research suggests that compared to previous decades, people in the UK are moving home less, and in 2023 those with a mortgage stayed for an average of 9.2 years in 2023. Those who own property outright will stay much longer – an average of 23 years. If your home is mortgage-free or you have no plans to move, a home cinema investment will bring savings in the long-term. In the southeast, cinema tickets cost around £10 per person (not to mention the cost of popcorn and drinks at the venue), meaning the expenditure for film lovers can quickly mount up, especially if they habitually take their families. A home cinema enables individuals, their families and friends to stay in, saving that money for other purposes.
Lifestyle enhancements
Of course, the financial benefits are only part of the picture; most homeowners making a home cinema investment do so for the lifestyle enhancements, such as the social advantages and improved entertainment experience. Let’s explore some of the reasons why our clients have come to us for a home theatre installation.
- Superior entertainment experience
A professional home cinema installation delivers a fully immersive experience that far surpasses that of a standard living room setup. With high-end audio-visual equipment from brands such as Sony and Artcoustic, which is supported with acoustic panels and smart automation, you can achieve a commercial feel but in a private space. Whether you’re watching a TV show or gaming, audio will be calibrated for different types of entertainment and visuals will be presented with exceptional contrast and detail.
- Convenience and comfort
Every time you and your family and friends want to enjoy high-quality entertainment, there’s no need to leave the comfort of your home. Sports matches can be enjoyed in high definition, the latest cinematic releases can be viewed in a theatre-style environment – and you’ll have access to all your home comforts as well. With the addition of a smart automation system like Control4 things get even more convenient. The touch of a single button can dim the lights, close window shading and adjust your climate control, creating the perfect viewing environment.
- Family and social benefits
Going out has become significantly more expensive, leading to many homeowners choosing to stay in or host their own events. A home cinema is the perfect place to gather with loved ones and spend time together. Whether it’s a simple movie night with the kids or a screening for your friends with pre-movie drinks and dinner, a home theatre is as much an investment in your relationships as it is in your property.
The importance of professional installation
It’s vital to note that a professional home cinema installation is going to deliver superior results and add greater value to your property than a DIY project. Potential buyers are going to attribute more value to a professionally completed installation where they can be sure everything from the wiring and acoustic treatments to the lighting has been carried out to accepted industry and safety standards. As such your home theatre ROI will be greater. Experts will ensure:
- Expert design and acoustics
A professional design will be properly thought through, from the wiring to the layout. Specialists create a home cinema that is tailored to the specific space, identifying potential problems and delivering solutions that will last. Acoustic treatments are a particularly important part of this, being meticulously placed to absorb and diffuse sound, creating the best possible experience. There will also be opportunities to scale up sound systems or other equipment should you or a potential buyer wish to do so.
- Quality equipment and integration
A professional has a breadth of knowledge when it comes to product selection and calibration. High-quality equipment is key to the immersive experience, delivering a higher resolution picture and more realistic sound. Technology such as Dolby Atmos enhances the experience by placing audio objects more accurately in space and transferring them between speakers, creating an audioscape that reflects the way we hear sounds in real life.
Regardless of which brands you choose, your technology must be properly calibrated to deliver the best results. This can be a complex job and the unique dimensions and setup of your space must be considered. An experienced professional can tailor everything to your needs and environment, ensuring you enjoy the utmost quality.
A specialist will also be able to advise on content services. Media library software such as Kaleidescape recreates content in uncompressed 4K HDR, ensuring every pixel is pinsharp. With a bitrate of ten times that of streaming services, it also works with Dolby Atmos to present the full depth of audio. Many homeowners choose services such as this to ensure nothing detracts from their experience.
- Ongoing support and maintenance
Beyond installation, a professional home cinema investment brings the benefit of ongoing support and maintenance. Whether you need a system update, some help with troubleshooting or you want to upgrade your equipment, you can be sure the experts are on hand to assist. Much like with a heating system or solar panel system, maintaining your home cinema properly ensures it continues to deliver optimal performance no matter how often it’s used. By engaging a specialist, you future-proof your investment ensuring you always enjoy peak performance from your equipment and systems.
Investing in a home cinema
Those looking to invest in a home cinema can undoubtedly be assured that both the financial and lifestyle benefits will be significant. The living experience is enhanced with state-of-the-art entertainment that surpasses a typical media setup, and is augmented by opportunities to socialise with both friends and family. Meanwhile, the comfort and convenience offered by a home theatre is unparalleled, giving you the commercial experience without the need to leave your home.
Beyond the immediate benefits, you can look forward to an increase in the value of your home, typically by some 65% of the cost of the home cinema. In certain locations and price bands, a home cinema will be an expected addition and may therefore attract greater interest compared with a property that lacks one. In the meantime, the long-term savings on cinema trips and socialising will deliver a return on your investment, potentially to the tune of several thousand pounds.
Whatever your vision for your home theatre, the need for professional installation cannot be overstated. A professional will ensure all safety and industry standards are adhered to, that your equipment is properly calibrated, and that the overall performance of your space is optimised. You will also benefit from ongoing support and maintenance.
At New Wave AV we specialise in the design and installation of home cinema rooms in London and the southeast. With 15 years’ experience and a wide range of projects behind us, we can transform an underutilised space into a luxury entertainment hub that exceeds all your expectations. Contact us today to book a demonstration at our Kent or Surrey showroom.
