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Finished Attic Or 2nd Floor GLA?

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Well.....there are rules....of a sort....though compliance is voluntary....you should download the ANSI handbook ($15)...don't have the link, but if you do a search here you'll find it.

(oops...looks like Doug beat me to the punch)
 
Great minds ... :rofl:
 
Interesting.

My house was built in 1905. The third floor is finished with three bedrooms. (Doors, closets, electrical, windows, plaster, wood floors, trim, ext)

This floor was finished a long long time ago. Most likely when the house was built. The town doesn't call it finished b/c before I bought it all the wood stoves (previous heating system, still have the caps in the chimney) were removed. So as far as the town knows the third floor is not heated. I spent $1000 and added electric heat on this floor. And presto, finished floor. Do you think I am going to tell the town that it is now finished? :huh:

You guessed it. Why would I, so I can pay a lot more taxes for my $1000 inprovement. Don't think so.

However when I have the house appraised you better believe that I will expect this level to be included in the GLA.

There could be many reasons why the town is not up to date on the attic rooms in question. I don't think it's you job to rely on that info solely. You inspected it and in your opinion backed up with your education tells you it's finished. Measure it and call it a day. :P
 
As for the market reaction to the second floor. Good point.

I guess if the walls are severy sloped so that you can only really walk in the middle of the room then I can see where the market may not treat as GLA even if the area fits to ANSI standards. Or maybe it's really hot up there and measures to vent have not been completed. I have seen that. It can get HOT up there.

But other than that. Why wouldn't the market recognise it as finished space if you can put a bedroom, or office, or what ever up there. Isn't that something? People won't pay more for that??? <_<
 
My house was built in 1905. The third floor is finished with three bedrooms. (Doors, closets, electrical, windows, plaster, wood floors, trim, ext)
Click to expand...

Are you going to count in some functional loss for no baths up there? :twisted:
 
Good point.

No we still use the out house. Guess I should consider that. :P

it's still GLA though. B)
 
When I was a senior in college I lived off-campus in a 3-story house. My buddies and I (5 total) had the 1st and 3rd levels of this house with a long enclosed and interior stairway from the main level, by-passing the 2nd level, and going up to where they had their three bedrooms. It probably was an attic conversion long in the past, and until just now I never gave that any thought. (The guys on the 2nd level apartment had their own separate entry) We drew straws on day-1 and I lucked out big-time because I got one of the 2 bedrooms on the 1st level. The only bathroom we had was on the 1st level, too. We split the total rent equally, five ways. Never gave any discussion to the fact that the guys on the top floor had a whole bunch more walking to do in the course of daily living. Boy, did I luck out, or what ?
 
Not really. :P

In my dorm in eight grade my room was on the fifth floor. In the beginning of the school year I couldn't believe how much that sucked. Few months in I was flying up those stairs. I was in great shape. :P
 
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