Gym at Home: Healthy Living

Every once in a while many of us tell ourselves we are going to start taking fitness seriously, and vow to start working out at a nearby commercial gym, only for our motivation to dwindle down in a matter of weeks after factoring commute, cost of using commercial facilities, and lack of free time.

An easy solution to this problem is the home gym: a space where homeowners can have easy access to their fitness regime, eliminating many excuses that come along with a typical gym membership. This week, let's talk about a home gym. We will consider the amount of work and costs typical of this venture to help you determine whether it is worth it.

One of the glorious aspects of living in a condo is the on-site gym that typically comes along with the condo fees you pay. The home gym is a way to exercise in, literally, the privacy of your own home. These days, where people have cameras recording their workouts for social media as well as some of the judgment that can come along with going to the gym, sharing communal spaces can sometimes turn people off from exercising. Even if you live in a condo or a smaller area and want to have some equipment, having a treadmill, bike, or dumbbells are an easy option.

An important factor to consider above all else is space. You need to ask yourself whether you have space for the equipment you want. Even if you picture a separate room when you hear someone mention a home gym, as mentioned above you can still plan your gym using equipment you know you will use, according to the size of your space. If you plan on having a gym that fills an entire room, which we will be focusing on for this article, you need to either have a room leftover or one you don’t mind converting, or if you are really serious about it you can renovate and add a room. Of course, adding an entire room will add significantly more to the overall cost of constructing your gym, but if it’s worth it to you it’s worth it to me. Many people often opt for garage gyms, but that set up requires extra ventilation and air conditioning in summer.

A very common option for gym location is the basement. Basements tend to stay cooler than other areas of the house, eliminating the issue above of overheating. A home gym can work whether your basement is finished or not. If your basement is not finished, you may find that you have more room for larger pieces of equipment and are less cramped for space. Odds are you can fit both a treadmill and a squat rack within close proximity and still have room for more.

The next issue that we need to consider is equipment. This is entirely personal, since it depends on what your goals are. In terms of cost, however, if you are a beginner you may find it more worthwhile to skip getting a Pelaton and opt for a more affordable option for cycling. Next is the treadmill, which according to CTV’s article dedicated to treadmills, can range from $500-3000. A cheaper option for those who won’t be doing a high-intensity sprint are walking pads, which seem to be doing for around $150. Experts recommend buying fewer more expensive equipment, rather than cheaper equipment. This is to do with safety and quality reasons.

According to HomeGuide, a typical home gym costs people anywhere from $800-5000. This likely considers extra costs like whether you need to renovate, or is factoring in the more serious athletes who look for top of the line equipment. The cost of a membership at a commercial gym adds up very quickly. Even if you are paying let's say 50$ per month for a gym membership, that's 600$ per year. When you buy home gym equipment you will be using them for a lifetime.

There is also equipment cleanliness and privacy to consider.

Many people changed their attitude toward using communal exercise spaces and equipment in post pandemic environment.? Additionally, there are discussion boards on platforms such as Reddit, warning gym goers that certain commercial and community gym facilities (rest rooms, showers) have been increasingly used by the unhoused people.?

According to multiple sources, having a home gym does not directly increase the monetary value of a property. Studies have shown that a home gym does not significantly impact the resale price of a house.

However, having a home gym can increase the desirability of a property to a certain subset of buyers, particularly those who value convenience, health, and flexibility. This can be seen as a differentiator, making the property more attractive compared to similar homes without a home gym. Having a home gym can be like having a pool – it’s a feature that appeals to some buyers.

Additionally, a home gym can provide a competitive advantage in the market, setting a property apart from others. According to How a Home Gym Adds Value to Your Property (UK, 2023), houses with a home gym have sold for 44% more than those without one. This suggests that, while the monetary value may not increase, the perceived appeal of the property do.

If you’re going to leverage a home workout space in your house listing, make sure you have a dedicated space that clearly shows its purpose, says Nora Crosthwaite, a licensed real estate agent at Stagerie, an online staging marketplace. Outfit the space with essentials, such as equipment for cardio and weight training, plus mats to stretch, do abdominal work, and yoga or Pilates. You may also want a bench, dumbbell rack, and a TV if you want to join an online class. A wireless sound system with built-in speakers also comes in handy.

Keep in mind that bedroom-into-gym conversion would likely lower the resale value unless your home has at least five bedroom. Buyers will be turned off if one of the two bedrooms in the home is jammed with gym equipment.

A spare bedroom can be turned into a comfy yoga or meditation space, but heavy impact equipment, such as treadmills or elliptical equipment, should always be set up in the lower floors or the basement. Basement is ideal as it has concrete slab floor which helps prevent surface damage and keeps resonating sound at bay. Using rubber tiles for the home gym area reportedly adds value. Buyers who care about home gyms will want to see that your gym is set up well, not just thrown together, so make sure it’s organized and clean, and that every piece looks intentional.

Ensure proper ventilation and forget adding floor-to-ceiling mirrors on the walls as prospective buyers who a home gym don’t need would consider that to be a negative feature that would be costly to remove.

In summary, having a home gym at home does not directly add monetary value to a house, but it can increase its desirability and competitive advantage, potentially leading to a higher sale price or faster sale time.