Don't Confuse The Buyer

A much needed, yet often overlooked aspect of readying your home for market is the necessity to clearly identify the purpose of each room in the house. When we live in the home many times it works better for everyday living yet can be very confusing for a prospective buyer if the original intention of the room is altered.

Empty nesters or childless couples won’t relate well to toys scattered where a dining table should be located. Nor will an elderly couple see the need for a room full of weight lifting equipment instead of a spare room for their adult children to be able to spend the upcoming holidays.

Eat in kitchens should allow for just that. I have seen homes that either do not have the requisite table and chairs at all or the table is piled so high with old newspapers and mail that one would be hard pressed to find room for a single fork let alone an entire meal.

Spare bedrooms that are used for an office are almost commonplace in our contemporary homes and lifestyles. However, a home office in you living room or worst yet your dining room is definitely a turnoff when marketing your home. A potential buyer should not be privy to personal finances left out in common rooms.


Another confusing room is the bedroom turned closet. Either the bed no longer even exists in the room or it has been hidden behind hanging wardrobes and mounds of clothing. This set up can be convenient to a homeowner when closet space is limited. However, to a minimalist or a man whose wardrobe consists of a few shirts and slacks this room will be a lost cause. Do you want to advertise the lack of closet space? This is a sure way to do it.

Porches and sunrooms should invite the buyer to linger and imagine themselves sitting there on a warm spring day. Bicycles, garden supplies, garbage pails and your old sneakers do not evoke such thoughts. Nor do boxes piled to the ceiling with items not yet unpacked since you moved in ten years ago. If it is still packed, do you really think you need this stuff?

So when you are ready to market, re-shift those rooms back to their former selves. As much as sellers want to believe buyers can see past these room makeovers, why chance it and add any confusion. Make the room’s purpose obvious. It might be what it takes for a quicker sale.