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What to look for if your buyer client is a MUSICIAN

By
Real Estate Sales Representative with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

What to look for in a porperty if your buyer client is a musician? Well, aside from typical Bedroom / Bathroom ratio and some idea of square footage, the most important feature that sells a house to many is a BASEMENT! 

BUT - not just any basement, or a mere fact that it's there. It has to be a very specific type of basement, that can be used for recording studio space, practicing, rehearsals and just general hanging and chilling at odd hours. violin player ben powell

 

What type of basement does qualify?

First and foremost - enough ceiling height. If there is a rehearsal, or recoding, there's a base player on the set. Have you seen an upright base up close? It's a huge thing! It needs room to stand freely (and not scratch the ceiling - it is an expensive musical instrument), plus room for a base player to move freely. 

Basement has to be finished - or at least partially finished, where a big enough space can be used for rehearsal right away. It seems, that the whole point of buying a house for a musician is getting a place to practice, and they will get right to it, before unpacking the boxes. It's somewhat stretched, but it's true :) 

There has to be heat in the basement, as well as enough electrical outlets and light sources. Air conditioning is secondary, at least on the East Coast. It's basement after all, and it doesn't get that hot in there even in the midst of summer. But if a whole band is practicing, and it's hot outside - air conditioner is most welcomed.

Basement has to be BIG take #1: One big space is preferred over few smaller rooms. It's good when utilities are in a separate room though. That way one can isolate their humming by closing doors, and properly insulating and soundproofing the room. When musicians record a song, and need to use different corners for each player, tiny basement rooms might not be of help, and it's better to build a temporary booth for violinist or singer (one uses special blankets, that are similar to moving blankets and special foam pads to do so), sound is better that way. base player recording

Basement has to be BIG take #2: adequate storage for all equipment, that a musician has a lot of. My husband (professional musician) recently DOWNSIZED his guitar stable to 6 (six) pieces. Plus there are 4 amplifiers, a base (just in case), pA system, mikes, cords, mixing boards, bookshelves with charts... There is a LOT of stuff that has to be properly stored and easily accessible. It can not be thrown in the attick (or basement corner) and forgotten about. 

Basement has to have an easy access to the car - either connected to the garage, or by a convenient walking path to the driveway. By convenient I mean a paved path without steps.  It doens't have to be flat (can go up or down slight hill). Musician has to load his gear in and out of the car almost everyday, and there are heavy cumbersome to carry pieces, that are transported on small rolling carts. Think amplifiers, drum sets, PA systems, aforementioned upright base - the base case has a detacheable wheel, so that the monster can be wheeled to the destnation.  Of course, walkway can be added, and paved by new owner at a later point after the sale, but there has to be possibility to do so in the first place.

 

Basement has to be DRY. It will be used for storage of expensive instruments and gear, that can get damaged by humidity. There might be a certain level of humidity, but only a level that can be safely dealt with by plugging in dehumidifier or two. 

Basement contains noise much better than other parts of the house, and with additional soundproofing there shouldn't be any issues with neighbors. However, it's best to have the neighbors at farther distance than up close. It's best when the property is abutting a non-buildable area on at least one side. 

When you have a musician client who is looking for a house, of course you will ask him/her about the needs and wants. But please consider going  beyond typical bathroom/bedroom questionnaire. If you are helping to find a hopuse for a musician, please feel free to contact me with any questions.

I speak about this with such certainty, because I happen to have the house with perfect basement. Overtime, more than 100 professional musicians have stopped by here, and EVERY ONE of them commented on the basement feature FIRST. Some of them hardly noticed number of bedrooms and other perks. 

Now Rock Star / Red Carpet type musicians - like John Meyer - would buy specific type of house all together (maybe better called a mansion), with home studio built in, but that's a whole new topic...

                                                                          international string trio  

Posted by

Anna Glebova

REALTOR®

If you are looking for an agent to help you buy or sell a home

in Brookline / MetroWest Area

give me a call: (617)966-7949 

Brookline, Framingham, Natick, Newton, Sudbury, Wellesley, Wayland and more 

Anna Glebova on Zillow
Show All Comments Sort:
Caroline Gosselin
Prominent Properties Sotheby's International Realty - Short Hills, NJ

Funny I came upon this blog today. I just helped a colleague with a price opinion on a house. A great studio with electricity and windows all around had been built on top of the huge 2-car garage. They owners were using it as storage, but I told her they should showcase it as usable space... I'll send her this blog to see if she can use any tips on how to advertise it to musician buyers! It would be a great space for that!  (Thanks to Sheldon for pointing me to this blog!)

Sep 04, 2010 12:43 AM
Dan Edward Phillips
Dan Edward Phillips, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA - Eureka, CA
Humboldt and Del Norte Counties, CA

Good Morning Anna, very good post, we generally do not have basements in this area, we do build homes with designed music rooms in the higher end homes.

Sep 04, 2010 12:44 AM
Ritu Desai 703-625-4949
Samson Properties - Chantilly, VA
Northern Virginia,Washington DC & Maryland Realtor

GM Anna, excellent post & reblogged !! I had added to suggest. We do have basement but most have garage band in our area..this will create another potential use of the basement.

Sep 04, 2010 12:57 AM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

Hi Sheldon

thank you for stopping by and for suggesting  :) Well, just few days ago friends (musicians)  stopped by, they plan to buy a house at some point. They said: we would like to use you as our agent, not just because we trust you, but because we want same basement, and you know what it is...

Now I see why you are suvha  talented agent - your father is a musician!

Caroline, that's called serendipity I guess ? Artists do need adequate studio space, so the house you mention might be appealing to a dancer as well, maybe painter - if light is right... Our friend's daughter was very much into gymnastics and dancing, and they covered whole wall in the LR with mirrors, so that she could practice at home.  This space that you describe might be a coveted feature...

Dan, it's great when homes are build with a music room in mind. Thank you for stopping by!

Ritu, garage band is a wonderful thing. I'm honored you reblogged - that's the first time since I'm here!

Sep 04, 2010 03:31 AM
Elyse Berman, PA
LoKation Real Estate - Boca Raton, FL
Boca Raton FL (561) 716-7824

Hi Anna,  I sold a house to a pianist.  Since we don't have basements in Florida (you'd be under water!) we had to find just the right amount of living room space to accomodate her baby grand and an upright.   Great post!

Sep 04, 2010 06:48 AM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

Hi Elyse - you are right, it can be another room in the house, or a garage, or an extension can be build - I guess we are a bit spoiled by nice basements here in New England (and finishing up a basement is cheaper than adding to the house, as well) 

Also, concerning grand pianos: they might be so heavy that the proper support has to be inspected, sometimes one needs to add another support beam on the lower level. Maybe not much of an issue in FL, without basements :)

Congrats on your sale - and maybe let your pianist client know, that we all are working hard on addressing musicians needs in a house, so if his/her fellow musicians need to buy something - you  are  THE ONE to help them...

 

Sep 04, 2010 06:59 AM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Anna, I suggested another one of your posts for feature, but this one is great too!!  What a good topic.  Muscians needs homes too :-)

Sep 04, 2010 07:46 AM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

Good explanation of this niche market. Not too many basements here in Las Vegas, but I have seen a few homes with built-in studios.

Sep 04, 2010 07:50 AM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

OMG, my FIRST FEATURE! Thank you everyone for your kind words and suggesting! 

Carla, thanks! Always a pleasure to read YOUR blog!

John, thank you! I probably should have called this blog "what extras musicians need", because not every area has basements... I'm glad if I could point out a few things that would help to find a house for a musician...

Sep 04, 2010 07:57 AM
Maureen McCabe
HER Realtors - Columbus, OH
Columbus Ohio Real Estate

I had a buyer who was a musician who needed the basement to be OK for recording a number of years ago. I tried calling and getting info from the listing agents about WHERE the furnace was because that was his concern.  I don't remember if  he cared if the basement  was finished or not. 

Placement of mechanicals was his main concern because of noise from them.   He was a first time buyer.  A single guy.  Real easy going about beds etc. but he knew what he needed in the basement.

Listing agents were virtually useless ... they knew the furnace was in the basement. There is nothing in our tax records that shows details of mechanicals.   He and I would schedule appointments and head for the basement first. We found the house and the father of the owner was a local  musician and real estate agent... just a freaky coincidence.   It was a great house above ground too.

Sep 04, 2010 08:00 AM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Anna, it depends on the musician.  I'm a flutist, and as a practice room, I need a bathroom with good, lively acoustics and enough room for a music stand and a flute to move around with ease.  A lot of musicians I know, at least classical musicians, prefer above ground space that can be sound-proofed.  Also, detached houses are better than townhouses or condos.   My guess is that a basement is better if you need a recording studio of if you are doing stuff that gets amplified.

Sep 04, 2010 08:55 AM
Nehal Kazim
Toronto, ON

Hey Anna!

Very well written. I'm not a musician but the scenarios you outlined hit the nail on the head. The last thing you want is for your buyer to regret the home 3 months down the line and blame it on the agent. Musicians will love you for it!

Sep 04, 2010 09:13 AM
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -

Anna, great photo and great topic!

Before becoming a real estate broker, I worked as a symphonic musician (french horn and conductor) for two and a half decades, so I can relate to your conclusions.  I love clients in the arts, and quite a few of my clients are symphony musicians, night club/jazz/blues musicians, actors, etc.

People in the arts make great clients.  They have a unique way of looking at homes, they're open-minded and are creative thinkers.  Besides, someone who is accustomed to paying a couple hundred thousand dollars for a great violin, viola or cello won't think twice about paying as much (or more) for a home!

Sep 05, 2010 05:14 AM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

Maureen, you hit the nail on the head! Humming from furnace is a bad thing for a recording. And you are right, people who don't know why it is important for a musician, would be quite surprised to hear that question... Congrats on job well done - anpother musician has great home. I laughed so much at "it was a great house above ground too."LOL!

Patricia, excellent point! You are absolutely right, if someone is a classical musician, requirements for practicing space are different, and less rigorous. Besides, these musicians usually can practice where they work - woth their orchestra, at Symphony Hall etc. But for a jazz band or rock band - that's different. A separate building is great, if one can afford to build it or can find a lot with one already in place...

Nehal, thanks for your kind words! I'm happy to work for them and with them. 

David, wow, what a great place you found for your client! 

Eric, thank you for your nice comment. I agree, artists are great to work with. And be friends with. It so happened that majority of my friends are artists, so it might be so happening, that I'm easing up into my niche market...

Sep 05, 2010 01:45 PM
Robert Hammerstein -
Christie's International Real Estate - Hillsdale, NJ
Bergen County NJ Real Estate

Anna - Being muscians ourselves we found this post particularly interesting and informative.. Will be reblogging this as well... I know these are the points we looked for in our house as I too have a recording studio in my basement... Great article!

Sep 06, 2010 04:44 AM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

Lisa & Robert, thank you for your kind words and re-blog. I feel very honored  :)

Sep 06, 2010 04:35 PM
Anonymous
George

Great post! Being a musician I found this post very informative. I’m planning to convert my basement into a music studio. But many factors need to be considered prior to working on the music room. One of the most important factors is soundproofing. As you said, basements should be soundproofed for practice sessions so that the loud noise will not bother neighbors. I thought I’d soundproof my basement with Quietrock, having heard that it’s excellent for soundproofing walls. I found some interesting information on their site http://www.quietrock.com/educational-resources/soundproofing-home-theaters-and-media-rooms.html.Thanks for the write-up.

Sep 08, 2010 12:37 AM
#23
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

Hi George, thank you for stopping by and giving your musicians' seal of approval :)

Wish you best of luck with your project. Maybe when you are done you will be kind enough to write a blog post about it, so we could learn from you?

That would be great!

Sep 08, 2010 07:22 AM
The Elise Bickel Team
ReMax Select Realty - Pittsburgh, PA
Leasing, Property Management and Sales

Great article. We work with a few musicians and they do need a dry basement first and foremost. Regardless of what kind of music they perform, they need to put their instruments somewhere.

Sep 09, 2010 02:54 AM
Anna Tolstoy
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Natick, MA

HI Weber Team,  thank you for your comment, artists do have their unique needs when looking for a home...

Sep 09, 2010 07:55 AM