Selling house with in-wall tank

clarkii · 03/20/2007, 10:29 AM

When I built my house, I designed it with an in-wall tank. It's a 58 gallon reef tank built into the wall that separates my office from the dining room. With the tank visible from both sides, it's a nice setup that people really like when they come over.

Here's the problem ... I'm selling my house. Is an in-wall tank a Good Thing or Bad Thing when you're selling the house?? Obviously, a fellow reef geek would love it, but the world is not full of reef geeks. Anyone have experience selling a house with an in-wall tank??

eckrynock · 03/20/2007, 10:35 AM

My sister bought a house with an in wall tank. They didn't want it. I got the 90 free just for picking it up!

Sorry, didn't answer your question. Just letting you know, people do buy houses even if they don't want the tank.

FishyBiz · 03/20/2007, 10:41 AM

I don't have the experience but I would say its a good thing for the sale.... bad thing for the buyer. Reef Geek or not, people LOVE to look at the fish in a saltwater tank. Theres something about it that intrigues everyone. That's why were in the hobby. Unfortunately a system like that will probably be in over their head and end up having problems with it.
Id say just make sure when people look at the house that the tank is immaculate! That way its not an eye sore. Just my 02.

SeaView · 03/20/2007, 10:41 AM

Probably won't hurt. But not sure it would help much either. Even if the guy is a reef geek he might be invisioning another size, placement, etc. Or already has 180 gal. he needs to find a place for.

davidryder · 03/20/2007, 10:44 AM

I think anyone would love the idea. People who don't know anything about fishkeeping will be inspired. Even if they give up in a month, it's still an initial selling point. It can be freshwater, too. Or amphibian/reptile. Or even filled up with some nice flowers/plants. Don't just sell it as a reef tank, sell it as whatever appeals to the buyers.

King-Kong · 03/20/2007, 10:50 AM

For the most part, individual customization of houses is a negative attribute to resale.

That said, could always offer to fix the wall.

jab502 · 03/20/2007, 10:51 AM

I am a real estate agent and an inwall is a bad thing for selling. 99% of buyers in my area do not want them, people view them as a liability. Home inspectors almost always have bad things to say about them. Every real estate market is different but in the NW part of the country in wall tanks hurt the sale, not help it.

spmedi · 03/20/2007, 10:56 AM

I second Kong. I have a 65 in-wall. We thought about selling last year. I wasn't going to include the tank though. You have a section where you can list items afixed to the house that are excluded. I just listed it there and said I would repair the closet to original form.

It is a beautiful display to look at but unforunately most people probably don't want it.

DrBegalke · 03/20/2007, 11:45 AM

For anyone on reef central, its probably a good thing! We all like reefs! LOL. For most of the rest, it will be neutral or even a big disadvantage.

If it seems like the later, just point out that the tank can by removed and the area dry-walled over pretty easily....

03/20/2007, 10:29 AM	#1
clarkii Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 24	Selling house with in-wall tank When I built my house, I designed it with an in-wall tank. It's a 58 gallon reef tank built into the wall that separates my office from the dining room. With the tank visible from both sides, it's a nice setup that people really like when they come over. Here's the problem ... I'm selling my house. Is an in-wall tank a Good Thing or Bad Thing when you're selling the house?? Obviously, a fellow reef geek would love it, but the world is not full of reef geeks. Anyone have experience selling a house with an in-wall tank??

03/20/2007, 10:35 AM	#2
eckrynock Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 733	My sister bought a house with an in wall tank. They didn't want it. I got the 90 free just for picking it up! Sorry, didn't answer your question. Just letting you know, people do buy houses even if they don't want the tank. __________________ Ed Genesis 1:21 Current Tank Info: 90 gal

03/20/2007, 10:41 AM	#3
FishyBiz Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alta Loma Posts: 2,708	I don't have the experience but I would say its a good thing for the sale.... bad thing for the buyer. Reef Geek or not, people LOVE to look at the fish in a saltwater tank. Theres something about it that intrigues everyone. That's why were in the hobby. Unfortunately a system like that will probably be in over their head and end up having problems with it. Id say just make sure when people look at the house that the tank is immaculate! That way its not an eye sore. Just my 02. __________________ Neal Current Tank Info: 20 Gallon Rimless

03/20/2007, 10:44 AM	#5
davidryder Claris or Elliot? Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Nightopia Posts: 2,750	I think anyone would love the idea. People who don't know anything about fishkeeping will be inspired. Even if they give up in a month, it's still an initial selling point. It can be freshwater, too. Or amphibian/reptile. Or even filled up with some nice flowers/plants. Don't just sell it as a reef tank, sell it as whatever appeals to the buyers. __________________ A rolling stone gathers no moss... Current Tank Info: 90g mixed reef, corner overflow (Mag 9.5), 25g refugium (Mag 5), 15g refugium, Orbit 260w pc, Pan World 50PX-X (Closed loop), AquaC EV-120 (now skimmerless)

03/20/2007, 11:45 AM	#9
DrBegalke Go Buckeyes! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Phoenix area, AZ Posts: 2,599	For anyone on reef central, its probably a good thing! We all like reefs! LOL. For most of the rest, it will be neutral or even a big disadvantage. If it seems like the later, just point out that the tank can by removed and the area dry-walled over pretty easily.... __________________ ~Jason Begalke Current Tank Info: Latest project: JBJ Cubey

03/20/2007, 10:41 AM	#4
SeaView Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: LI/NY Posts: 586	Probably won't hurt. But not sure it would help much either. Even if the guy is a reef geek he might be invisioning another size, placement, etc. Or already has 180 gal. he needs to find a place for.

03/20/2007, 10:50 AM	#6
King-Kong Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Gainesville, FL Posts: 2,346	For the most part, individual customization of houses is a negative attribute to resale. That said, could always offer to fix the wall.

03/20/2007, 10:51 AM	#7
jab502 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 157	I am a real estate agent and an inwall is a bad thing for selling. 99% of buyers in my area do not want them, people view them as a liability. Home inspectors almost always have bad things to say about them. Every real estate market is different but in the NW part of the country in wall tanks hurt the sale, not help it.

03/20/2007, 10:56 AM	#8
spmedi Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Indianapolis, IN Posts: 285	I second Kong. I have a 65 in-wall. We thought about selling last year. I wasn't going to include the tank though. You have a section where you can list items afixed to the house that are excluded. I just listed it there and said I would repair the closet to original form. It is a beautiful display to look at but unforunately most people probably don't want it.