In my previous post The Mystery of Vacant Listings - Which Room is Which?, I asked a simple question.  Please identify the function of the rooms based on the photos given.  Not many attempted to identify them, but the few that did try were unable to accurately identify all 4 rooms. 

When you consider those that did give it a try, we are talking about very talented stagers who have seen many, many different houses and have learned that there are certain architectural markers that will tell you what a room is, even without a description, yet even they missed the mark.

So, what, you say?  The agent could always list the rooms function in the comments, right?  Well, not many of the vacant homes in my MLS have room by room descriptions. So, if your average Joe buyer were to look at those homes on the MLS without knowing what architecural markers to look for and no description posted, how are they supposed to know what they are looking at? 

Just as many have said before, furniture dictates function.  By having this property staged prior to placing the photos on the MLS, the seller removed any doubt as to what buyers are looking at when viewing his property online. 

Mystery Room #1:

Answer: Dining Room

Mystery Room #2

This is my favorite mystery space because its purpose was a mystery even to the seller.  It is a room located just off the master suite connecting to the bonus area above the garage that serves as a second master closet. 

During the initial walk through, we discussed three possible uses for this space: Excercise room, office or dressing area.  Considering the demographic of the neighborhood, the target market for the home and other existing features of the home, we defined its purpose as........

Answer: Home Office

Mystery Room #3

Answer: Master Suite

Mystery Room #4

Answer:  "Formal" Sitting Room

I chose not to go too formal in this room as it is open to the living/family room.  Upon entering the house, you automatically assume that this room is the living room, until you look through to the next room and see what obviously IS the living room.

This seller knows that photos of a vanilla box after a vanilla box does not inspire a buyer to schedule a personal showing or attend an open house.  He made sure that he increased the effectiveness of his marketing efforts by having his property staged prior to listing.

More photos of the property

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If you have a vacant listing in need of definition in the Northwest Indiana area, contact Kimberly Wester of Details Staging and Redesign at 219-241-7252 or kim@detailsstagingandredesign.com.

www.detailsstagingandredesign.com