Create your own private wine cellar
For those in the luxury market, a private wine cellar at home has never been more appealing to buyers than now. Conditions will need to be just right to create the perfect at-home cellar environment.
RE/MAX of Southern Africa provides the following advice for creating an athome space in which to store a vintage collection.
To start, homeowners need to understand that creating an athome cellar can be an expensive undertaking, as it will require a dedicated cooling system and proper insulation of the walls, floors, and ceiling. The room basically needs to function as a refrigerator would: a sealed-off space that can be kept at a constant temperature of roughly 12 to 14°C.
Homeowners will also need to install the correct lighting, as well as loadbearing shelving in which to store their collection. The room needs to be in a space that will not be subject to any vibrations – so placing it beneath a home gym, for example, would be ill-advised.
Once these necessary structural changes have been made, the style of the cellar space can be considered. Homeowners can choose to stay traditional by installing oak shelving, or opt for the modern look with glass and metallic finishes. A seating area in which to conduct private wine tastings with dinner party guests will help homeowners to get more use out of the space.
For those who decide to go ahead with these renovations, it could be helpful to contact a real estate professional who is experienced within the luxury market. "An agent from our high-end RE/MAX Collection portfolio, for example, can inform homeowners of the potential value an at-home wine cellar can add to the property," explains Adrian Goslett, regional director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa. "This can help the homeowner determine how much they are willing to spend on the renovation if they are hoping to make a good return on investment."
As a final piece of advice, Goslett suggests that a private cellar be viewed more as a safe way to store an expensive collection of vintage wine rather than a way to increase the value of a home.
"The capital outlay required to create an at-home cellar might not always realise the same return in value on the asking price. If you are looking for ways to increase the value of your home, contact a real estate advisor to find out what buyers are looking for in your area," he says.