Garage converted to bedroom--is this OK? (appraisal, legal, inspection, value)

[atoledo]

I live in Queens, NY. I am currently refinancing, and the bank appraiser is coming in a few days. My house is in excellent condition, so I wasn't worried until I remembered I turned our garage into a separate room. I was going to use it as an office, but my teenage son wanted it as his bedroom so we dragged his stuff in there. I didn't do it myself. I hired a company to do it, but I don't remember any forms being filled out. The garage door is still in place so from the outside it looks like a garage. They basically just raised the floor a few inches, tiled, sheetrock walls and ceiling, and installed two outlets (licensed electrician).

Is this legal? Will it effect the appraisal?

Thanks for any help.

[Lacerta]

Depends on what your city allows. In my area, if that was done without a building permit, it is a building code violation, and can get you into trouble. Hopefully, the company you used was a reputable one, and filed for the building permit for the work.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

It cannot be called a bedroom in most cities without a closet and a window egress. If you don't have those, then it becomes a "study" or "bonus room."

[atoledo]

Originally Posted by Lacerta

Depends on what your city allows. In my area, if that was done without a building permit, it is a building code violation, and can get you into trouble. Hopefully, the company you used was a reputable one, and filed for the building permit for the work.

The company is indeed reputable, but I don't think they filed any paperwork being that sheetrocking a garage and tiling the floor is allowed. It's that fourth wall covering the inside of the garage door that is questionable. The garage door is still there as are the tracks.

If it was an inspection, I would be worried. Since this is a bank appraisal, should I be less worried?

[atoledo]

Originally Posted by SouthernBelleInUtah

It cannot be called a bedroom in most cities without a closet and a window egress. If you don't have those, then it becomes a "study" or "bonus room."

There is no closet nor window. It's only a bedroom because there happens to be a bed in it.

Thanks for the peace of mind.

[Ms_Christina]

Take out the bed and stage the room as an office for the inspection. But in reality bed or not, without the closet and window it is not an official bedroom so I wouldn't be worried.

[manderly6]

If it is an issue it should only be with the refinance. I don't think they would go to your town and say something.

[barkomatic]

If the renovation left the garage doors and track in place, then that sounds a little sloppy to me. In order to find out if the renovation was legal, I'd check in with the city.

[manderly6]

Originally Posted by barkomatic

If the renovation left the garage doors and track in place, then that sounds a little sloppy to me. In order to find out if the renovation was legal, I'd check in with the city.

I have heard of people doing this because they might want to convert it back.

[KonaKat]

Leaving the garage door intact is actually a good idea (especially if no permit was pulled) because it's very easy to take out the one wall of sheet rock and voila, you have your garage back. they won't appraise it as finished space because there was no permit; they will value it as a garage.