Is laundry area in the garage functional obsolescence?

[kristofer]

This homeowner remodeled a small home (1000 sq. ft.) and moved the laundry area to the garage. I spoke with another appraiser and he said this is not functional obsolescence because it is somewhat typical of buyer preferences. I am not the most experienced appraiser in the area, but I am very familiar with the area and do not know of one other home that has a laundry area in the garage. I was 99% sure this is FO, am I wrong? .

 

[Ken B]

It's your market. In my area, it's not unusual. Of course, seasonal temps in this area are significantly different than those in your area.

You might want to contact a couple of experienced agents in your area and get their feedback.

 

[Don Clark]

This homeowner remodeled a small home (1000 sq. ft.) and moved the laundry area to the garage. I spoke with another appraiser and he said this is not functional obsolescence because it is somewhat typical of buyer preferences. I am not the most experienced appraiser in the area, but I am very familiar with the area and do not know of one other home that has a laundry area in the garage. I was 99% sure this is FO, am I wrong? .

Christopher.......why would you believe it is functional obsolescence? Is the garage attached or detached? Can the garage and living area be accessed directly from the living area?

Need more information.

BTW, I own and live in an older home where the laundry area is in the garage. Most homes in my neighborhood are that way. i do not see this as functional obsolescence.

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

I agree that it would be "chilly" doing laundry in an unheated garage, but they are very common in many areas of the country.

But......the rule of thumb is, if the typical buyer of a house would prefer an indoor laundry room in your market, then indeed it could be considered fo. Could you "fix it" - in other words, provide an access to this area, as well as heat and cool it and make iit like living area? If so then that could be considered "curable fo" and you could make the adjustment in the sales grid on style or something.

Unless I was very sure that there would be a market reaction to this, however, by comparing sales of homes with or without garage laundry rooms, then I would be very careful making that adjustment.

 

[kristofer]

Christopher.......why would you believe it is functional obsolescence? Is the garage attached or detached? Can the garage and living area be accessed directly from the living area?

Need more information.

BTW, I own and live in an older home where the laundry area is in the garage. Most homes in my neighborhood are that way. i do not see this as functional obsolescence.

The un heated/finished garage can be accessed from the living area. I have reasearched years of data for the neighborhood and found not one similar listing or sale. I just could not imagine a typical buyer would be ok with having to get bundled up to go in to a garage in freezing temps to do a load of laundry.

 

[stefan olafson]

Kristopher,

Have you done any more than searched REALTOR or city data? Maybe it's so common in homes of a similar age that its not listed as in the garage???

In NW Minnesota it would be external more than functional or maybe both, when things weren't frozen solid (eight months of the year) the mosquitos would eat you alive!

 

[Caterina Platt]

Kristofer,

Many, many smaller floorplans here have the laundry area in the garage. What I generally find with buyers and homeowners in these smaller floorplans, is that since the living area in a 1000 SF floorplan is a premium, most would rather have it utilized for 'living' rather than the washer and dryer.

The only time it would be a problem is if it restricted the use of the garage as actual parking area. If your garage is deep enough to accomodate the laundry area and the cars as well, it shouldn't be a problem.

What part of Colorado are you in? We have quite a few posters in Colorado who might be able to offer more market specific input. I'm in Albuquerque, and although it gets cold here, it doesn't quite hold a candle to many winter temps in CO. My garage is still reasonably temperate in the winter. I couldn't tell you that would hold true in Gunnison or Durango.

 

[Michigan CG]

A washing machine, in a garage, in Colorado. Last time I checked it freezes in Colorado. So during the winter you would need to blow all of the water out of the plumbing after each use in the winter or the MayTag repairman would be at the house weekly.

Or you could heat that garage.....two stall garage, 500 SF, $1.50/SF/YR/2 to heat -- $375/YR.

I call it functional obsolescence, putting a value to it is another problem.

 

[Tom Woolford]

Laundry is an essential household function. In your area, I would expect it to be in heated spaces for a number of reasons not limited to frozen supply hoses, comfort etc. Down here probably 50% of homes have laundry facilities in the garage, but then we dont have the environmental problems you do. I know when I was a kid growing up in the mid-west and the Northeast, laundry was always in heated spaces or a warm basement. Sounds like a functional problem to me. Putting a number to it is a different animal all together. Best of luck.

 

[Mr Rex]

It freezes here too, and many 60s and 70s ranch designs had the washer/dryer off the garage or carport in a smallish storage room. Some heated and some not. Minor market preference for laundry areas inside the GLA, but nearly unidentifiable with matched pairs when comps are similar actual age.