Jul. 8, 2006 - Where are the bedrooms?

I have noticed recently that many of the homes that stay on market for longer than the average days on market are homes where the bedrooms are positioned "awkwardly" in the home. 

A four bedroom home with two bedrooms above the main living level and two bedrooms under the main living level, or one bedroom on the second level, one on the main level and two in the lower level. This is more common in homes with views than in homes without views.  The master bedroom is often placed where there is an excellent view at the top level of the home with the best view, and is sometimes all master suite on the top level.  This puts all remaining bedrooms on a different floor than the master suite.

For people with grown children or for divorced people who have a new partner in life that is not the parent of the children, who are older and visit rather than live in the home full time, this can be a perfect configuration of space.  But for someone with a two year old and a baby on the way, having a small child in a bedroom two floors below the master suite, just wouldn't work.

Homes with only the master suite on top in the view corridor, can end up being a great bargain as well as a great home for the right person.  Often sellers price these homes based on a price per square foot comparing the home to neighbors who have 3 or 4  bedrooms up.  Consequently the home stays on market for a longer period of time, as it is overpriced for its style and is not discounted property for the "awkwardness" of the bedroom placement. 

Waiting for "the right person" to come along is all well and good, but don't expect the house to sell for the same price as your neighbors, given the diminished buyer pool.