Dining Room Or Not

[Ken Youngkrantz]

Is it a dining room or a dining area?
I have asked two experienced (over 15 years) appraisers and have gotten a completely different answer on this. Would like some opinions on it.

Many of the new homes in my area are being built with what could be called a "great room". At one end you have the kitchen, at the other end you have the family room and inbetween you have an area where the dining table is (this area is sufficient for a table and chairs for eight people). In most cases there also is a small dining "nook" in the kitchen and or an island that has stools and an area to eat at it. Many times you will be looking at the dimensions of this whole area to be something like 18' x 40'.My question is this: the area where the dining room table and chairs are, is this a dining room or a dining area?

One position is that it does not have walls around it, thus it is not a room. I will not argue with someone who takes this position. However, if you take this position then neither can the family room be considered a room.

Second position is that as long as there is an eating area in the kitchen this area is a dining room. Walls do not a room make.

If we take the positon of what is common practice for this area to be called in the community we then would call it a dining room.

My supervisor has a definite opinion on this. Not sure that I agree with him.
I would like to hear some comments on this.

Thanks
Ken

 

[Nancy Wyatt]

I say dining area if it does not have 4 walls around it. I don't really care when I'm doing reviews how it is classified but I'm going to do it my way.

 

[Michigander]

Agree with Nancy on that.

 

[jonathan asbury]

i heard that if there is no chandelier its not a dining room



jonathan

 

[Gary Leduc]

I remember from class, that if the room CAN have walls around it and still be FUNCTIONAL, then you can call it a dining room.
If not it is an area.

 

[Scott Kibler]

I remember from class, that if the room CAN have walls around it and still be FUNCTIONAL, then you can call it a dining room.

That's how I see it.

 

[Tina]

As I recall from ABI, 3 walls constitute a room. (unfortunately, ABI was 6 years ago)

That's the rule we use in our office.

 

[Stephanie Welch]

I call it a dining room if it is a separate room with walls, otherwise it is a dining area. Honestly, does it really matter? It's all still GLA, right? IMO, it's not going to affect the appraised value?

 

[Ken Youngkrantz]

Stephanie;
You are right. going to be same GLA so guess in the big picture not that important. Maybe I'm being to concerned about the "little" things. Point of reference. Most of you confirmed what my supervisor has been telling me.

You All Have A Good Day

Ken

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

If the addition of a fourh wall would constitute a room then it's a dining room. Dining area is usually reserved for an area in the kitchen. Again, it's a local custom thing.

We have an area off our living room but there are only two walls so I call that a dining area. And, yes, it does have a chandelier thingy!