Non conforming bedrooms in a duplex.

[ChampRJ]

I'm not referring to the typical walk through or low ceiling height which make it obvious it's not a bedroom. The subject is an 1880s built duplex with 2 bedrooms up and 1 down. Problem is no closets. I'm pretty sure I know the answer but looking for opinions.

 

[J Grant]

there is no law that says a bedroom must have a closet

 

[Mark K]

Typical for that vintage of home. Tenants will figure out something; they always do.

Besides, the kids never use a closet anyway, clothes are always on the floor from what I've encountered.

I wouldn't make any adjustment for it.

 

[ChampRJ]

Typical for that vintage of home. Tenants will figure out something; they always do.

Besides, the kids never use a closet anyway, clothes are always on the floor from what I've encountered.

I wouldn't make any adjustment for it.

That was my thought. It functions well as is.

 

[glenn walker]

Only mansions had closets in properties that old , tenants don't care about closets and if they do they can go to Wall-Mart and for a few hundred bucks buy a portable closet and take it with them when they move. And there is no adjustment to make. In Los Angeles almost no homes constructed before 1945 had built in closets. After WW-2 the Levitt Town Tract in New York was the beginning of tract built homes that included closets and the rest is history. Unfortunately- Some old HUD appraiser started the closet police in 1955 and within a few years word had spread that in order to be a bedroom it had to have a built in closet. Today we still have FHA appraisers saying its a guideline which is not true. In my lifetime FHA-Fannie-Freddie has never had any policy regarding closets yet at least 50% of the old FHA appraisers believe it does.

I once had a debate with a HUD reviewer years ago on this subject and She insisted I either condition the house to have closets installed or deduct for a cost to cure. I told her no way the 90 year old home had Lath & Plaster walls and back in those days people used "Armouirs" which are portable closets. Anyway I told her to cite her source but she could not find it. I told her you cant find it because it never existed ! So then she says its a market expectation. I reply back then why was the home only on the market for 10 days and had multiple offers ? And that she was the only person who cared about the issue. Anyway luckily at that time I knew the head appraiser at our HOC so I went over her head. The Chief Appraiser was an-old grumpy guy and he said tell her the house doesn't have a garage either because people in that area were riding horses when that bad-boy was built. I laughed and said no lets not give her something else to think about because the ding-dong will next condition me to have a Hitching Post and Horse Corral Built. SEE THUMBNAIL $275

 

[J Grant]

Houses evolve ..Older homes had no closets in bedrooms ( maybe a small one in the master ),,,

early fifties started closets in every bedroom, shallow, narrow ones ...with ...drum roll...a luxury was the master bedroom gets a modest size WALK IN closet.
now we see built ins and huge walk in closets - custom built in high end closets amazing....typical tract house might upgrade to California Closet level system..

Was inspecting last week, mid price house, HO showing me around, opens door to a 4 x 6 walk in closet with ordinary white shelving/built with drawers in center stack. He proclaims " There's at at least $4000 here in built ins here" Really?. I just smiled and said nothing- more like $1500 tops from home depot installed -how stupid does this guy think I am... thank you for showing me your awesome, amazing closet ... .

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Bedrooms have no closets, this is typical for older homes and accepted in the market.

Feel free to copy and paste.

I have seen some old homes here that were def not mansions but had decent size closets, go figure.

 

[Mark K]

FWIW, some of the older homes' bedrooms have 'closets' that are only about one foot deep and 4-5 feet wide. They generally had hooks inside to hang clothes, no shelves, not deep enough for hangars.

One owner told me they were called 'presses' back in the day.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

FWIW, some of the older homes' bedrooms have 'closets' that are only about one foot deep and 4-5 feet wide. They generally had hooks inside to hang clothes, no shelves, not deep enough for hangars.

One owner told me they were called 'presses' back in the day.

Must be regional diffs here. I have never seen one like that.