In luxury cities like the Hamptons in NY, panic rooms are rising in popularity as an expensive add-on amenity. Especially in areas that have experienced an increase in crime rate lately, the wealthier residents are asking for rooms with features like bulletproof glass or specialized entry points to try and keep themselves and their families safe. According to Gary Blum, the president of panic-room installation company Armored Entry, “The home-security business is very event and news driven. We get business when there is fear being generated.”
But, the price of these “panic rooms” can often be underestimated by consumers looking to install them. Bullet-proof windows start at $6000 each, and interior changes to install a panic room can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $25,000. Many of these rooms are designed to have a double function, so many of them end up looking like home theaters or wine cellars. This may add to the cost, but it also adds to the wow factor for people who get them installed. What do you think? Are rich homeowners taking their paranoia to the extreme? Or are these panic rooms just an excuse to show off another fancy amenity?