I have come across this exact situation now quite a few times since last summer and it has occurred to me that something has to be said about it. As Realtors we've got to get the word out to smaller custom residential builders.

Since last summer I have shown many new construction homes to prospective buyers that were built by local, small, custom home builders. These homes typically run on the higher end of price points in our area. Many of them are just beautiful to look at and they're in some wonderful newer neighborhoods.

Then, something strange happens...I walk in with my clients and we tour the interior and observe the floor plan and sure enough we'll all standing around scratching our heads wondering "what's this space supposed to be used for?" Or, "how do they expect us to fit any furniture in this tight space and actually use it for its intended purpose?" Or, "what the hell were they thinking when they did THAT?". 

I just got off the phone with another Realtor who was seeking feedback on her listing that my buyer clients viewed the other day. I proceeded to inform her that this otherwise beautiful new construction home in an upscale part of town, with a price point in the mid $600k range had left my clients and me perplexed and confused. This home had its share of oddities and quirks. One such oddity was upstairs in one of the bedrooms. There was a relatively small bedroom upstairs that had at least 1/3 of its space devoted to a step-up riser/loft area, complete with a railing, which made no logical sense and completely messed up any otherwise needed and otherwise functional bedroom.

That same day led us to another new construction home with two separate large doors leading out from each corner of the master bedroom to a cement and brick porch that literally had no usable porch space. Once you step out, you've got about 18" before you have go down the brick steps to an area with sharp slate stone and gravel. Let me get this straight, because I'm a little confused....You expect me to buy a home for $627,900 and have "his and her" doorways leading out to a porch with no usable porch space whatsoever, just to walk down the steps and cut my bare feet on sharp-edged slate stone shifting around on loose gravel? Huh?

Another home in an upscale, new subdivision that still has not sold since last fall is just beautiful throughout until you stand in the family room and then it hits you....if I put ANY furniture in this room, such as an eat-in kitchen table and chairs and then a couch in front of the fireplace and then perhaps a chair over in the corner...this room will feel tighter than a New York City one-room apartment! I later found out from the builder that they knew about this room being too small but they chose not to alter the plans to correct it! Shocking! And here the home sits...unsold, recently expired, and listed with a new agent and company. I recall speaking to the builder's wife at a Realtor luncheon at the new community and she literally begged me to "just bring her an offer" on the property.

Small, local custom builders who buy or otherwise obtain their plans to build must stop and consider if the plans have what I like to call "violations of common sense", otherwise known in some small circles as "a complete and total brain-fart". Such problems should be addressed and modified before building.

In cases where the space in question is utterly confusing but is still usable, the builder must define the space for the prospective buying public! Either buy some furniture and props or hire a professional home stager to help define otherwise confusing spaces!

Let the viewing of the home become a joyful experience and leave a great impression with the buyers and Realtors. Don't have buyers and Realtors leaving the home saying "What the hell were they thinking when they did THAT?"