door to nowhere

[PhiloFarnsworth]

standard SFR appraisal. Borrower never got around to putting deck on rear of home. Breakfast room door opens into space 5' above grade. Door is deadbolt locked.
Safety problem? Would you do it "as-is" or subject to an exterior rail being installed?

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Flag for safety. Let someone else decide

 

[Meandering]

FHA?

I've seen appraisers make HOs screw these things closed while on inspection.

Check with the HOC, if it's FHA, because a deadbolt may not be a permanent fix. If it's not FHA, check with your client for their tolerance level for such things.


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[Mr Rex]

Screwing them shut makes less sense, now it can't be used for emergency egress.

 

[CANative]

There is no right or wrong answer. Use your best judgment.

I'd describe the condition and not condition the appraisal on repair. If it was a second story or the 5' drop landed on a disposal pit for broken window shards I'd condition the appraisal on repair.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

check with the governing Building Department - probable health and safety issue - may also have an open/expired building permit or C. of O.

 

[mutigerfan]

I had same issue just 6 months ago on a FHA assignment. The Denver HOA center allowed the homeowner to mount a 2x6 on the exterior of the home that would not allow the door to swing open. I do not know what you would do if your door swings "in"...good luck.

 

[CANative]

check with the governing Building Department - probable health and safety issue - may also have an open/expired building permit or C. of O.

What does that have to do with the appraiser's opinion of market value?

"Hello, governing Building Department"

"Hi, I'm appraising a house with a door to nowhere. What can you tell me?"

"splutter, splutter, why that's awful! it's a probable health and safety issue and it has an open building permit!!!"

"What are you going to do about it?"

"Well, when they finally finish it we'll sign off and issue the CO and maybe give them a $75 fine to teach them a lesson. That's what!!!"

 

[VolcanoLvr]

I believe per building codes, all residences are required to have two means of safely exiting the dwelling (on the main level).

If this door to nowhere is one of those, I'd condition it to require a set of stairs be installed. If it is a 'third' door (or +), then a mention and photo, with written description probably is enough.

 

[incognito]

Flag for safety. Let someone else decide

There is no right or wrong answer. Use your best judgment.

Universal words of wisdom...

check with the governing Building Department - probable health and safety issue - may also have an open/expired building permit or C. of O.

I agree with CAN's response. Additionally, when the home owner gets a call from the Building Department, demanding that expensive repairs be made to comply with code, have you not disclosed confidential information acquired in the process of doing the appraisal inspection, to a non-client? We are not code police. However, as Vol-Lover states, if the condition causes the subject to not meet a clients minimum requirements (as he suggests might be the case with FHA), then it does become an issue.