Question: We have a bedroom in our basement. The appraiser said it is not a bedroom and our home appraised at less than sale price. How could they say it is not a bedroom when we have beds in there and our sons slept there for 13 years? We are furious!
Answer: We understand your frustration. You have a nice home, both parties agreed to the sale price, you made it through the home inspection and everyone is happy. Then the appraiser steps in and ruins this perfect deal.
Although your home obviously has a bedroom in the basement, it does not meet the bedroom criteria that an appraiser uses. This may vary from state to state, but generally a bedroom is considered a bedroom by an appraiser if it has 2 ways of egress (door and/or window). The bedroom must be at least 70 sq. ft, and it cannot be smaller than 7 ft in any horizontal direction. Sorry, that 2’ x 35’ room is not a bedroom. The escape window or door must be at least 5.7 sq. ft for an opening. But guess what? It doesn’t need a closet according to the appraiser!
NOTE: It would be a good idea to put at least an armoire in that bedroom to satisfy your buyer.
The Conclusion: It may look like a bedroom, it may have a bed like a bedroom and you sleep in it like a bedroom, but according to the appraiser, it doesn’t quack like a bedroom.
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