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No offices allowed!

By
Home Stager

 

Home offices are popular with buyers and sellers alike. With the importance of computers in our lives we want a designated spot.

I've seen them set up in bedrooms, great rooms, dining rooms,basement areas and kitchens.

The problem is that when you sell your home, you are supposed to show a clear purpose for each space. Multi-purposing a room can confuse a buyer. They may feel your home is lacking a feature.

Recently I visited a home that had the office space in the Master Bedroom. The Master Bedroom is supposed to be the owner's refuge from the world, a haven. Having a work station in this room defeats the purpose. It takes the 'luxury suite' feeling out of the room.

 

Better to set a small bedroom or an area of the basement up as your home office.

Some homes have an area set aside in the upper hall for this purpose. It allows computer access for the whole family and allows parents to keep watch over their children.

Don't confuse the buyer:

  • A kitchen is for cooking and eating with family.
  • A great room is for TV viewing and entertaining.
  • A bedroom is for sleeping.
  • A master suite is a retreat meant to offer a refuge, rest and romance.
  • A dining room is for dining with family and friends.

 

By combining functions, you are implying that your home lacks enough space to house all the features properly.

Please, don't put the office in the Master Suite!

 

Posted by

Retired Home Stager

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments(23)

Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Excellent post, Janice.

  Sometimes you have to spell it out for a Seller!

  • A kitchen is for cooking and eating with family.
  • A great room is for TV viewing and entertaining.
  • A bedroom is for sleeping.
  • A master suite is a retreat meant to offer a refuge, rest and romance.
  • A dining room is for dining with family and friends.
Jan 05, 2012 12:23 PM
Kristine Ginsberg
Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ
NJ Home Stager

Janice - while it's okay to have an office in your bedroom while living in your home, definitely not when selling. I hope they listened to your advice and turned their bedroom into a relaxing master bedroom! Hope you had a great New Year!

Jan 05, 2012 02:07 PM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Janice - I couldn't agree more!  One of the worst places to find an office is in the Master Bedroom!  Talk about taking the romance out of the bedroom!

Jan 05, 2012 03:47 PM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Janice--I see the office in the master bedroom concept all the time.  The truth is that here in a 2 bedroom/2 bath, 800 square foot condo there are few other choices.  I always recommend that the office is removed. Buyers can figure out where to put there own, should they need one, once they buy!

Jan 05, 2012 04:52 PM
Peg Barcelo
Fluff My House! Home Staging Inc. 250.486.6369 - Summerland, BC
The FlufftasticStager from Summerland, BC

Janice, Its funny how people forget what a master suite is supposed to be for. Mabe it's because they're often so busy they've forgotten how to relax.

Jan 05, 2012 05:18 PM
FN LN
Toronto, ON

Hi Janice - With condos getting smaller and smaller in Toronto, more rooms are being used for multiple purposes.

Jan 05, 2012 11:52 PM
Kathy Strader
Memorial Staged Homes - Houston, TX
ASP

Nice post Janice.  You are so right; defining the room is critical to an effective home staging plan.  You really drove the message home at the end where you say, "By combining functions, you are implying that your home lacks enough space to house all the features properly." 

Jan 06, 2012 12:42 AM
Malcolm Johnston
Century 21 Lanthorn Real Estate LTD., Trenton, Ontario - Trenton, ON
Trenton Real Estate

Almost every house has an office or media room these days Janice. Usually it's just a place to stick a computer and some books. Kids these days have to do homework on the internet, so the old kitchen table doesn't work so well anymore for homework purposes. I have seen new homes that have a little alcove for this purpose, and it works quite well.

Jan 06, 2012 01:30 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Glad you agree Brian!

Jan 06, 2012 02:51 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Thanks Fred. Spelling it out is my job ;).

Jan 06, 2012 02:52 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Happy New Year Kristine! They were a great couple and seemed very open to staging.

Jan 06, 2012 02:54 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Sally, I've had to take offices, cat play areas and nurseries out of Master Suites LOL.

Jan 06, 2012 02:55 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

That's right Janet. The buyer can make the home fit their lifestyle any way they want.

Jan 06, 2012 02:56 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

I think you are right Peg ;).

Jan 06, 2012 02:57 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Yes they are Marc. Sellers have to keep in mind they are selling the 'dream' not the crowded reality.

Jan 06, 2012 02:58 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Kathy, sellers have to keep in mind that their home is sending out silent messages.

Jan 06, 2012 03:00 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

I've seen these areas as well Malcolm and they can work.

Jan 06, 2012 03:03 AM
Jark Krysinski *PREC (Personal Real Estate Corporation)
REMAX CREST REALTY WESTSIDE - Vancouver, BC
TeamYVR Team Leader, BA,ABR,IRES,IMSD,LLB

It is interesting and smart to set the bedroom as office, and it do save money and it is convinent. Good article! Thanks Janice for sharing!

Jark Krysinski @ REMAX 

TeamYVR 
Real Estate Advisors
Jark Krysinski & Associates, REALTOR®, BA, ABR, IMS.Designation, LL.B
TeamYVR: Jark Krysinski, David Chen, Kyle Roman & Travis Robinson
REMAX Crest Realty Westside, 1428 W. 7th Ave., Van, BC, V6H 1C1.
DIRECT: 604.790.9945, OFFICE: 604.602.1111 x.116
TOLL FREE: 1.888.479.8999, FAX: 604.602.9191
1. www.SOLDBYJARK.com "SOLDbyJARK & Associates Website" 
2. www.BRIDGEMAKERSGROUP.com "Vancouver Business Group" 
3. www.3MBX.com "Trimetro Business Group"
4. www.BIGRICHGROUP.com "Richmond Business Group" 
Jan 06, 2012 12:39 PM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Glad you agree Jark. Home offices are popular but should not be part of the master. A secondary bedroom as an office works well as long as there are enough bedrooms.

Jan 07, 2012 02:55 AM
Janice Ankrett
Burlington, ON
Staging Professional

Valerie, thanks. There is a big difference between how we live in a home and how we sell a home.

Jan 09, 2012 11:32 AM