The home sauna market in the US has been enjoying significant growth over the past three to four years, with an overall compound annual growth rate of around seven percent.
Improved affordability has been a major factor, with sauna kits that contain everything you need starting at about $5,000.
That’s still a significant investment, especially for something that you are unlikely to disassemble and take with you when you move. But that cost could be offset by the value it adds to your home.
Choose wisely, and you can enjoy the benefits of luxuriating in a sauna, safe in the knowledge that you have made a worthwhile investment.
Shop Around for the Best Sauna Deal
The booming popularity of saunas has stimulated a bigger choice and that’s good news for buyers. When the focus is on value and ROI, getting a good deal becomes critically important.
Check online US sauna specialists like The Saunaplace as you can find some significant discounts of 30 percent or more on the usual retail price.
That means you can spend less than $4,000 on a sauna that would ordinarily retail at about $6,000 such as the Almost Heaven Hillsboro 2-Person Prebuilt Sauna.
Choose a Conservative Sauna Style
When you choose a sauna with a view to adding value, you need to approach the purchase from the perspective of your buyer. This is important when it comes to selecting the style of sauna you want to buy. Look at it this way.
If you are redecorating a room and you love bright purple, then that’s a good choice if you are staying long term. But if you are thinking ahead, you might choose a more subtle color that has general appeal when you market the property.
The same principle applies when you choose a sauna. Barrel saunas and pod saunas are very fashionable and will appeal to those who appreciate contemporary and flamboyant style.
But, like those purple painted walls, they will not appeal to everyone. A cabin sauna is more traditional in design and will blend in with any surroundings in a back yard or garden.
Low Maintenance or Hassle
House buyers weigh pros and cons. If a sauna is not at the top of a buyer’s priority list, his or her mind will naturally gravitate to the latter. You can combat this by choosing a sauna set up that has minimal hassles associated with it and low maintenance needs.
The first way to do this is to choose an outdoor sauna with an electric heater. Unlike a gas heater, there will be no annual inspection needed, and with no emissions, buyers will not start worrying about whether the controversy over EPA clean air regulations might affect them.
Also think hard about the type of wood used to make your sauna. Spruce is cheap but more demanding in terms of maintenance. It is worth investing a little more and choosing an outdoor sauna made of red cedar, as this is naturally resistant to weather and insect damage.
When the Time Comes, Stage Your Outdoor Sauna
If you decide to put your home on the market, take time to stage the sauna, both for photos and viewings. If necessary, give it a new coat of varnish and clean or replace the sauna stones so it all looks like new.
By emphasizing the pros and eliminating the cons, your sauna can easily add value to your home and might just be the deciding factor that attracts your buyer and helps it to sell quickly.