Media Rooms & carpet vs. hardwood vs. tile (sale, buying a house)

[Trailing Spouse]

When buying a house, is a media room a "must have" for you all in Texas? I know a lot of new homes come with a game room but wonder if a media room is all that necessary.

Also, when selling the house, do you leave the media equipment in it? Or, do you take it.

Also, what are your preferences: carpet, hardwood, tile?????????

Thanks in advance for your replies.

[galore]

Media room is not a must have but nice.
I left the projector and the speakers in the media room when I sold the house.

carpet/tile/hardwood: personal preference.
I like carpet in the bedrooms (and media room), tile in the bathrooms and hardwood in the rest.

[Guingirl]

Media room is definately a bonus and you want it carpeted with generally a darker carpet than the rest of the house, no windows (or blackout curtains) for better accoustics. I think it depends on the price point of whether you leave it or not and where you are moving to. If I wasn't going to take it if we moved, I would incorporate it into the price of the home.

Some people's definitions of media rooms are different and as with anything it depends on how serious you are about it .

[momof2dfw]

Depends on the price point of the home of a true dedicated media room is expected or not. In your average run of the mill "tract home" they are not. Upper end "tract" builders and custom home, yes. A media room MUST have carpet. You do NOT want a hard surface floor in there at all. Window is fine as long as it has a room darkening shade. By most city building codes if a room including a "dedicated" media room has a window it MUST have a closet and vice versa. This is because someone could possibly say it is a "bedroom" and if so they need an emergency escape. As for the equipment, if you use just a large tv be it projection or not that is not required to stay. NOW, in Texas anything ATTACHED to the home including a projection screen and the projector mounted from the ceiling would be included in the sale of the home UNLESS it is specifically mentioned in the listing agreement that it will not (same goes for window treatments and such). The equipment that is sitting on a shelf and only "plugged in" is NOT required to stay but it can be.

[KantLockeMeIn]

If you're asking wood vs tile vs carpet in a media room, definitely carpet. You don't want an untreated surface to further reflect sound if at all possible.

[nsumner]

A media room is really only expected in a home of about 450K and above. Equipment is sometimes negotiable. It will just sell your house better, you don't necessarily get more for the house. Always dark carpet in the media room.

Always go with tile on the floors in all the bathrooms, (at least 13 X13), kitchen, laundry room and high traffic area as well as shower and backsplash. Bedrooms with carpet, always upgrade the padding at least. Builder's standard is usually not so good. If you decide to go with wood instead of carpet in the family room and other areas, do not use the laminate.

If you decide to upgrade to wood, most of the time I have found that the price is much better to have the builder do it instead of doing it yourself.

[Trailing Spouse]

Thanks all for your "helpful hints." We have moved 6 times in 8 years - and another possible move coming up. Everytime we buy we have to think about "resale" when we select our upgrades because we know this will probably not be our "permanent" home - if it was, I would put into the house what I wanted.

One last question - What type of window treatments do you all prefer - curtains - blinds - window tinting?

Thank goodness for this board and you wonderful people.

[m00se]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

...By most city building codes if a room including a "dedicated" media room has a window it MUST have a closet and vice versa. This is because someone could possibly say it is a "bedroom" and if so they need an emergency escape.

But a closet is not an emergency escape.

[FarNorthDallas]

So, how long will you be in this area in this soon to be purchased home?

[nativeDallasite]

Originally Posted by Trailing Spouse

When buying a house, is a media room a "must have" for you all in Texas? I know a lot of new homes come with a game room but wonder if a media room is all that necessary.

I don't think it is, but I've never had one before. People who have media rooms say they can't live without them.

Also, when selling the house, do you leave the media equipment in it? Or, do you take it.

Given that some media rooms are equipped with tens of thousands of dollars in furniture and electronic equipment, I would absolutely take it with me and would expect a seller to take theirs with them.

Also, what are your preferences: carpet, hardwood, tile?????????

Thanks in advance for your replies.

Carpet, no question. Media rooms are loud and I wouldn't want to put up with the bellowing and echoing you'd get with hardwood or tile. I'd even be tempted to put some sort of fabric soundproofing on the walls.