Adding a closet in bonus room to make it a bedroom?

[mjonis]

I had a rather large addition put onto my house in 2008/2009. There is a bonus room (above the garage) that was permitted and has insulation, windows (conforming to egress/fire entrance codes), and AC/Heating, and electrical. It passed inspection and then I had the room drywalled, painted, and carpeted so I could count it as Finished Space. For whatever reason the county documented the area as unfinished (perhaps because it had no drywall, paint or floor covering-that was done later and did not require a permit).

Anyway, It's about 900 square feet. It has a door to the rest of the house (no separate door from the outside/garage). So you walk upstairs, go through a hallway and there's a door to the bonus room.

I'd like to add a closet to make it a bedroom. (so the house will then have 5 bedrooms, 2.something baths since the other bathroom has a separate tub and a shower).

But what constitutes a closet? Does it have to be enclosed? In other words, can I have like California Closets or similar stuff attached to one of the walls, or do I also have to build a wall around it and put a door on it? Most walk-in closets I see don't have doors, but then again, what determines a "walk-in" closet? Does it need some minimium amount of wall length to "separate" it from the rest of the room? Or can it just be in the same space?

I will obviously check with local code before adding anything that requires building walls,etc.

This is in the Albany, NY area (technically Loudonville, NY).

Thank you

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

There is no rule that states a bedroom has to have a closet. It must have two egresses (door, window or two doors) for safety reasons.

 

[mjonis]

There is no rule that states a bedroom has to have a closet. It must have two egresses (door, window or two doors) for safety reasons.

Thank you, however, in the neighborhood that my home is in, no appraiser will count it as a bedroom. Real estate agent, doubtful. They'd just list it as a bonus room/finished square footage.

Either way, the question remains:
Is there some formula/definition that appraisers use to determine what constitutes a closet within a bedroom?

Thanks!

 

[hastalavista]

There is no formula I've ever heard of.
If you think this room will transform into a bedroom by adding a closet, with 900sf, I'd think you'd have plenty of room to decide where to put one. Why not just match the closet configuration you have in one of the existing bedrooms?

A 900sf bedroom (one large room with a closet) sounds like an odd-ball to me. I'm surprised that the addition of a closet in your market would make any difference in terms of value. But, your market may be different from the ones I operate within.

Good luck!

 

[J Grant]

There is no formula, a typical closet that is market accepted is best for improving property. A typical closet has folding doors or a door that closes. Go tour a few model homes and look at the closets.

 

[JTip]

If you want to make it a bedroom, go for it.

If you are trying to come up with different ideas to just to increase the value of your home, don't waste your time and leave it as is.

I would assume your neighborhood/market area are full of homes with these 'bonus rooms'. They are a 'bonus' and you can do with them what you like.

 

[mjonis]

If you want to make it a bedroom, go for it.

If you are trying to come up with different ideas to just to increase the value of your home, don't waste your time and leave it as is.

I would assume your neighborhood/market area are full of homes with these 'bonus rooms'. They are a 'bonus' and you can do with them what you like.

I figured I'd do things piecemeal, although that may be a bad idea. Do the closet first, and then 1-2 years later put a master bath in it, so it would be a master bedroom/bath/closet.

But didn't want to have to re-do the closet twice.

I have a layout in mind that would make it "easier" to add the plumbing/etc (joist locations/windows/ductwork were all placed with this in mind).

But as others say, if there's not much of a difference in value in terms of 5 bedroom vs. 4 (eventually I'm sure there would be with 5 bedroom 3 bathrooms), for valuation purposes, may not make much difference *now*.

Just wanted to make the room more functional with future plans/re-sale in mind.

The neighborhood (1 block in each direction) is mostly older homes with no bonus rooms at all. If I go a few more blocks, there's newer neighborhoods with bonus rooms, but they are also almost all 5 bedroom 3 bathroom houses as well.

 

[mjonis]

There is no formula, a typical closet that is market accepted is best for improving property. A typical closet has folding doors or a door that closes. Go tour a few model homes and look at the closets.

Thanks! Most of the model homes I've seen with walk-in closets have no doors on them. The do build a little "wall" on each side (2' or thereabouts) and then you have a big opening.

So I will keep that in mind and apply for the necessary permits then after checking with the town on Tuesday.

 

[CindyR]

There is no rule that states a bedroom has to have a closet. It must have two egresses (door, window or two doors) for safety reasons.

I was looking at bedroom definitions just recently. I am not saying Tim is wrong just reporting that my "The Language of Real Estate Appraisal" book of definitions states "Each bedroom should have at least one closet with interior lighting". And interestingly it makes no mention of a secondary exit.

 

[BRCJR]

I was looking at bedroom definitions just recently. I am not saying Tim is wrong just reporting that my "The Language of Real Estate Appraisal" book of definitions states "Each bedroom should have at least one closet with interior lighting". And interestingly it makes no mention of a secondary exit.

The key word is "should". That is not the same as "must".