Whether your home has three, four or five bedrooms doesn`t have much impact on its value. You`ll notice a difference in value if your home only has two bedrooms because they`re harder to sell,» says Chipman. According to Robin and his family, it was not a fourth bedroom. But for home sellers and their listing agent, the space was qualified. Whether you can call a room a bedroom if it doesn`t have a closet depends on your local building codes and zoning laws. If a room is legally considered a bedroom, but may not meet the buyer`s expectations, think about how you plan to market the home. For example, if you live in an area where closets are not needed but expected, you can list a room without a closet not as a bedroom, but as another type of room. Keep in mind that unmet expectations can lead to dissatisfaction and trigger lawsuits. Yes! In California, the housing code does not require a bedroom to have a closet. In newer homes, buyers expect you to have a closet in spaces like a master bedroom. If a room doesn`t have a closet, the potential buyer may not want to invest time and money in the renovation. So what can you call a room or room that doesn`t meet those average 7-foot requirements? Depending on your condition, you could get away with calling it «office,» «nursery,» or «bonus room.» Whether it`s bedroom or not, almost any hint of extra space will make most buyers` eyes shine. (13) The equipment of the bedroom shall include an adequate closet or closet, adequate lighting for reading and other activities of the occupants, a desk or chest of drawers or equivalent furniture, and at least 1 chair with armrests in each room for 2 residents.

Whether you need a closet or not, a room often has to meet other requirements to be called a bedroom. These include: This can vary by city standards, as some cities have a rule that equates square footage with the number of people in the room. Some cities, like Michigan, require at least 50 square feet per person living in space. Therefore, a bedroom like a master bedroom should have at least 100 square meters. This is an important factor in the legal definition of a bedroom. If you`re still not sure if your room is technically a bedroom, ask your agent before you put your home on the market. Don`t have one yet? How to find a real estate agent near you. «When sellers ask if a room is suitable or not, I give them the number to call our local real estate agency,» advises Chipman. Sellers who add extra rooms — or even claim an existing room as an extra chamber — without upgrading the septic system can find themselves in a lawsuit. In fact, you can even stage that extra space as a study, even if you haven`t counted it in MLS.

Simply adding a bed and closet when a closet is missing helps buyers visualize how the space could accommodate their family. This way, they see the potential of your home, regardless of the exact criteria on their wish list. However, expect legal problems if you distort the number of bedrooms in your home if it has a septic tank. The size of the septic tank your home needs is largely determined by the number of bedrooms (as bedrooms affect occupancy). Septic systems are based on the use of 110 gallons per day per bedroom. Section 433 (1) A room may not be used as a bedroom if more than one-half the height of the room is below level, unless the ceiling of that part of a building is 5 feet or more above level over more than 25% of the perimeter of the building. Having a closet in a room has long been considered a sign that the room is a legal bedroom. However, the standards under this assumption have changed. Depending on the condition you are in, it may not be necessary to have a closet in a room for it to be considered a legal bedroom.

Some states, such as Alabama, require a bedroom to have at least one window and closet. However, this is not the case across the country. In California, the housing code does not require a bedroom to have a closet. Most buyers prefer a bedroom to have a closet. However, depending on where you live and your building codes and zoning laws, this may not be necessary. Many historic homes don`t have the standard storage space that new homes have, which offers some wiggle room in these listings. In newer homes, buyers expect you to have a closet in spaces like a master bedroom. If a room doesn`t have a closet, the potential buyer may not want to invest time and money in the renovation.

Have you asked yourself, «Does a bedroom have to have a closet?» Well, contrary to popular belief, a bedroom doesn`t need a closet (or walk-in closet) to be considered official (forget your own bathroom). Your partner may disagree, but legally, at least in most states, it doesn`t. Temperature regulation. In most states, rooms must have a source of heating or cooling. In warmer states like Arizona, regulations focus on indoor or rental cooling units. On the other hand, colder states like New York or Minnesota require heating in the bedroom. Auxiliary heaters are not considered to be heaters. The same goes for fans in homes with warmer climates. This is an important factor in the legal definition of a bedroom. Often the safest and easiest option is to advertise the property as a 3 bedroom with a den/office, a children`s room or a «bonus room». This language lets potential buyers know there`s another room without you getting in trouble if you list a room that`s not really a bedroom.

If you claim that an extra room in your three-bedroom home increases it to four bedrooms, your comparative market analysis (CMA) will be based on other four-bedroom homes in your neighbourhood. The legal definition of a bedroom depends on where you live. Indeed, building codes vary from state to state, and it is these building codes that determine what elements a room must have to be legally called a bedroom. This is one of those requirements that varies depending on where you live. In most areas where temperatures drop below 60 degrees F in winter, building and zoning regulations require bedrooms to have a heat source. Some states have square foot requirements, such as Texas, that require rooms to have floor space — as much as 7 feet horizontally and a minimum ceiling height of 7 feet. Window. Many cities have a minimum size for one-bedroom windows. This requirement plays into the requirement of an exit route. In an emergency, the window should be the right size so that everyone can escape. If you are a CRES customer and have a question about room classification or any other legal issues related to an ad, call the CRES ClaimPrevent hotline®.

The hotline is available to our customers 7 days a week to help them solve any problem that puts you at risk. (And we guarantee a response within 4 hours or the next business day, with recommendations confirmed in writing.) 3. The interior doors of the rooms occupied by the occupants shall be fitted with a fixed side hinge door fitted with positive locking devices ensuring that the door is opened by a single movement, such as turning a knob or pressing a lock with normal force. When your clients ask if a room can be classified as a bedroom, don`t go beyond your expertise. County records show the number of rooms for which the home was assessed, which may or may not refer to closets. This can make an already complicated situation even more confusing. The legal definition of a bedroom may vary by city, county or state. How do you know what a bedroom is? (4) Residents of the opposite sex may occupy the same bedroom only if they are husband and wife. Does someone who is not on the other side of the galaxy really need to ask, «What is the definition of a bedroom?» Actually, yes. Welcome to the nuances of real estate language, where not everything is as it seems.

You can`t just place a bed in a medium size and call it a master bedroom. In most cases, there won`t be legal consequences if you misrepresent the number of bedrooms in your home – but there will likely be financial consequences.