The overlooked value of SPECIALITY ROOMS

A buyer purchases your whole house, but often it’s one or two rooms that capture his or her imagination and makes your home “the one.”

Remember when saw your first media room? Remember the cool flat screen TV? Weren’t you envious? And then the idea occurred to you to refashion a room in your own house, make it your version of the ideal place for escape.

But the effect has diminished over time because the recliner’s leaning to one side and boxes are stacked all around the TV.

Potential buyers can’t see what that room was meant to be or could be again. It’s the same all over the house. As Realtytimes.com put it: “Preparing your home to sell involves removing items that don’t serve a purpose.”

Specifically, those items that are out of place can hide the value of an entire room. Not mention removing the magic that room once possessed. And that makes your house less desirable.

Here’s another great example from that story: You’ve got a room that you’re trying to bill as an ideal “home office.” Problem is, it doesn’t look like a home office. Not with the kids’ toys strewn about and stuff everywhere. A buyer that works at home looks at that and likely thinks there’s no way she could get any work done.

Another specialty room that’s very attractive to buyers is the exercise room. That spare bedroom you never use could fill this function. And while you’re at it, the exercise bike in your main bedroom that acts as a clothes hangar needs to be in this room – minus the clothes. Maybe add an exercise mat and a foam roller – they’re cheap – to create a workout environment. This is attractive to people still not ready to return to a public gym.

Even a child’s room can get a little bit of a makeover and look like two rooms in one. Just clear out the clutter and put in a desk, chair and reading lamp. Suddenly, you’ve created a study area. “Highlight it for buyers to see it as the space where great minds come to learn, absorb and innovate,” Realtytimes.com says.

Your REALTOR® will undoubtedly have other great ideas for this room-by-room makeover. The article even suggests using a room with good lighting to create a possible art studio. What does this entail? Not much expense on your part. All you need is an easel and some art décor so buyers can visualize the space as a place for creating their masterpieces.

In sum, look at each room in your house as though you’re interested in buying it. How could you use the rooms then? Get creative, have a little fun, and you’ll probably get some great ideas for your next home, too.