Are Split Level Houses Hard to Sell?

Split level homes have different floors that are connected by short flights of stairs. They usually have three different levels, and they are sometimes called tri-level homes. If you are buying or building a home and think a split level home might be for you, it is important to understand whether or not it is hard to sell.

Some people love split level homes, while others won’t even look at them. That means that you have a smaller market when you are selling your home. However, you can stage your home to show buyers the reasons why they will love your home. You can also focus on landscaping, curb appeal, and excellent marketing.

It is important to understand the pros and cons of owning a split level home, and what makes it unique. Continue reading to learn whether or not it is hard to sell a split level home and what you can do to improve your marketability.

Is it Hard to Sell a Split Level Home?

The reason that it can be hard to sell a split level home is that some buyers simply don’t like them. They might feel that the floor plan is too choppy or that there isn’t enough natural light. They also might consider it to be a dated style.

However, you can take steps to improve the marketability of your home. You can invest in landscaping and stage your home so that it doesn’t feel so disconnected. You should also make some minor updates to your bathrooms and kitchen so that the interior of the home doesn’t look dated.

There may be a smaller market when you go to sell your split level home, but there are plenty of people who love this style, so you still have good chances to sell the home.

What Are the Different Types of Split Level Homes?

Most split level homes have three different levels that are connected by short staircases. There are several different types of split level homes that are common, including the following:

Side Split

A side split level home separates the bedrooms from the rest of the living space in the home. You can see the different levels from the front of the house. Normally, it will have a garage on one side, and there are bedrooms above the garage. The side of the house will contain the main living area. An example of this style of split level home is the home in The Brady Bunch.

Here is a look at the newly renovated Brady Bunch house.

Back Split

Another type of split level home is the back split. You can see the different levels from the side of the exterior, but you can’t see it from the front. Normally, the front appears as one story, and the back has two stories.

Here is an example of a renovated West Oakville back-split. The video takes you through a house tour.

Standard Split

A standard split level home usually has an entrance in front at the ground level. When you enter the house, there will be stairs that take you up or down to the other levels. Normally, the top level includes bedrooms and bathrooms, while the middle level is where you find the kitchen, living room, and dining room. The bottom level might have a garage, a study, or a playroom.

Stacked Split

A stacked split level home has as many as four or five levels. The entrance is usually at the ground level, and the kitchen and dining room will be down a level. On the bottom level, there is a basement or a playroom, and the bedrooms are up above. There can be two floors with bedrooms.

What Are the Benefits of Having a Split Level Home?

When you want to sell your split level home, it is important to understand the benefits so that you can stage it and market it well.

First of all, split level homes have more living space than other homes. The split levels actually give you more rooms, which can be great for large families. In addition, the living spaces are separated. If someone needs a home office, this is an ideal set up.

You can separate the home office from the living areas and the bedrooms. These are benefits that can convince someone to take a look at your split level home. They may have someone working from home, or they might have busy teenagers who need some space.

Tips for Selling Split Level Homes

Besides emphasizing the benefits of a split level home, you can redecorate and do some minor renovating to make your home more marketable. Start off by making sure that your home is staged properly. You can make the home feel more connected and less cluttered with staging. If you have a great realtor, they will usually help you with this.

You can also update your home with some minor projects. Paint the front door and the interior walls to show that it is well cared for. You can also clean up your yard and plant some flowers or shrubs in ideal locations.

Make sure that you use light colors inside to brighten up the space. One of the complaints is that split level homes don’t have enough natural light, so brighten it up inside. Make sure that it has been updated and show off the parts of the house that will entice buyers.

Common Complaints About Split Level Homes with Solutions

There are several common complaints about split level homes. You will want to stage your home to turn these complaints into assets.

First, people think that there are two many stairs. While there are more staircases than in a standard home, there are half as many stairs in each set. You never need to climb a full flight of stairs, and the stairs are often easy to navigate.

Another complaint is the lack of connectivity between the rooms. You can make your home feel more connected, while emphasizing the benefits of privacy for everyone in the family. This privacy allows one person to work, another to watch television, and another to entertain friends without disturbing each other.

Modern Split Level Home Design

Those who think split level homes are old designs of the past may want to take a look at this modern split level home design for a small home.

Final Words

Split level homes can be more difficult to sell, but you can show off the benefits of your home to entice buyers. Make sure that you stage the house and highlight the privacy. Use light colors to make it feel more open and brighter. There is a market for split level homes, but it is smaller than the market for standard homes.

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