From cozy nooks to spacious master suites, there’s a wide range of bedroom sizes. If you’ve invested in a home with smaller bedrooms, some clever staging and careful thinking can help you make the most of the space and garner the best potential ROI if you plan to flip it.
Here are answers to five common questions about bedrooms:
1. What Makes a Bedroom?
Codes vary by state, but generally a bedroom needs two methods of egress. Most bedrooms accomplish that with a door and a window (or a basement bedroom may have a walkout). If you bought a home at auction and plan to fix-and-flip-it, make sure you know any rules on bedroom designations that may apply to your investment property. With some minor work, you may be able to add another bedroom and make your property that much more marketable.
2. Can I Market a Bedroom if it Doesn’t Have a Closet?
Technically yes. There is a difference between what counts as a bedroom for county tax purposes, and what you can get a potential buyer or renter to envision as a bedroom. While having a closet is not required, it is still highly recommended. If the room doesn’t have a closet, you could consider buying a wardrobe to put in the room to make it feel like a bedroom.
3. Should I Stage a Small Room as a Bedroom or an Office?
In most cases, you’re better off staging a room as a bedroom – particularly in major cities where bedrooms are at a premium. If you can make it work, one option is to stage it as both to show potential buyers the flexibility they have with the space. However, be careful not to make the space appear too cramped or cluttered.
4. What Can I Do To Maximize the Space in a Tiny Bedroom
If you’re going to sell your investment property, you want buyers to see the bedroom as being adequate for a bed – so make sure you put a bed in the space when you stage the home. Other staging tricks or good decorating ideas for your property include using mirrors to make the space feel larger, and make sure there’s plenty of light in the room to avoid the small, cramped feeling that dark rooms give off.
5. Will I Recoup My Investment if I Renovate the Small Bedroom to Make it Larger?
Projects like bumping out a dormer in an attic bedroom might be worth it to make the space look larger, but you shouldn’t count on getting that investment back.
If you invested in a home with small bedrooms, you can use these tips to transform the space. However, make sure you take into account how much money you are willing to invest in fixing or making updates to the property before you place a bid. If you’re ready to sell or buy an investment property, visit Hubzu to learn more.