Posted by Tommy T on September 12, 2007 at 22:05:18:
More than one way to skin a cat here (there’s an ugly thought, eh?)…
We have contacted the assessor and notified them that their records
were not correct, that there was one more bedroom than the record
showed. They were happy to change their assessment and record, and
of course charge a bit more in prop. tax. They aren’t usually
concerned about how the additional bedroom got there, that’s not their
department.
Most places, a bedroom has to have an escape route to be a legal
bedroom, such as a window of min. size as per building code, but no
requirement for a closet as per code… and you can always buy a closet
cabinet at home depot!
Your main issue is getting the County records to show the proper
amount of bedrooms, because the appraisor cannot contradict the
record.
What happened to the original appraisal from your purchase? You
could get that appraisor to update that appraisal, and then find a
lender that will accept that appraisor.
No back door? Take out a window and put in a door and a small deck,
looks great, cheap to do… you’re not on the 5th floor of something,
are you?
Two quick questions, First, what make a bed room? Closet, size of the room or the closet? Second, I was told the a house must have a back door or at least two entries in order for a sale to take place, Is this true? We bought our first house, a TWO BEDROOM, one bath, 18 monthes ago and the broker told us the we should get set up to re-fi about 3 or 4 monthes befour the fixed loan would run out. We did just that and have found out from several apprasers that the house is listed with the how ever, (county?) as a ONE bedroom one bath, and with that the value of our house is not even worth what we owe… So no re-fi, Please HELP! Thank you, Kevin & Cherie Saxton
Posted by River City on August 14, 2007 at 10:02:45:
The second room probably has no closet. Generally, appraisers do not consider a room a bedroom unless it has a closet. If it has no closet, it might be considered a family room, office, or possibly a bonus room. Is the room large enough to add a closet?
Regarding the second entry, single family detached homes should have two entries/exits for emergency purposes. Townhomes and condominiums might only have one entrance, however, there should be a 2nd exit accessible for emergency escape via a window, a deck with a ladder, etc.
There are a lot of condo units that have only one entrance, so it probably depends on what kind of property and when it was built.
Is one of the bedrooms a converted garage? This is often how properties that are not up to the market standards are upgraded. You could contact the County and ask what you need to make a bedroom in a house you bough official. Probably needs an inspection and permit.