A Great idea?

I would recommend it only if you can stay within your budget and that is a pretty big hit.
You have to consider the additional expenses of permits as well. Any time you do structural changes you need to get permits. In some areas, that can be quite costly.
Many things sound good until you go to sell and have no profits.
You must always ask, when doing rehabs. "Is this change going to make me money"? If it isn't don't do it, regardless of how good it sounds.
Remember, we are in this business to make the most money possible.

Jim

You brought up some very valid points I am afraid!

Great thoughts. I love out of the box thinking. I would look to partner with manufacturers of storm shelters and see what you can do to get them to cut some of the costs and also promote the house to some of their foot traffic that comes in to look at the shelters. Or find some other way to use it as a benefit in your advertising / promotions.

Chris! Thank you for thinking of a solution to a problem.

IN my experience as a real estate investor, I've found that for rehab projects there are only two reasons for making improvements to properties:
1) To Make You Money
2) To Make the Property More Marketable

This second one has to do with giving you a competitive advantage that decreases your days on the market, or helps you not to have to compromise your price.

This being said, you bring a valid point to the table that items that solve problems for people make properties more marketable, especially if they cannot get these features elsewhere. I'm not sure what circumstances would make it financially feasible to go to the extent that you are considering, but some modern features that could sometimes be worked into a rehab project might be disaster storage, easy exit systems, removable shutters, etc. We live in a world right now where there are a lot of hard core or wannabe "preppers" and features that appeal to that mentality would be very current and marketable.

Using the same reasoning, the trend toward entertainment rooms vs. the more traditional den or family room is great, so component wiring, shelves, chairs or other "plug and play" entertainment center items or conveniences are highly marketable. And outdoor living amenities are still very strong. If you can create a lifestyle feel that people want to step into your properties will move rapidly. Just make sure that you don't invest your profits into making the property nice for them while you walk away with a whole lot less.

ppl who take a chance on living in "Tornado Alley" should be prepared for 'worst case scenario'.

I'm not trying to sound like 'Dooms day preppars', but, Remember what CAN happen.

Could very well be a selling point if cost sufficient and Safe.

WTG femailceo, thinking outside the box!