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Our current house is a tri-level in an established single family neighborhood. The previous owner decided to turn the lowest level (originally a master bedroom suite) into an apartment by moving doors around and adding a kitchen sink and counter in one corner. It has a main room, bathroom and a bedroom. He had renters in it for a year or two even though it was probably not allowable by code. I would like to turn it back into a living area. As far as resale, would it be best to leave it as an apartment or convert to single family use, ie family/entertainment/guest suite?
It depends. It makes a difference how well the rest of the house is laid out too. There is a significant demand for MIL, or Auxiliary Dwelling Units... As an income source or to plan for care of aging family members. If it is an obvious two unit dwelling it may affect some financing and insurance. There isn't just one answer for this.
First stop is to go to the county building permit people and see if the apartment is legal, if it is legal for a relative but not to rent out, or not legal at all.
Probably doesn't have a CO, certificate if occupancy to make it a legal apartment. So may actually could be a problem. That being said there are a lot of homes that may have these illegal apartments and not a problem, until it's a problem. You probably can't advertise when selling as a two unit home, what is the cities zoning for your home. If you look at the tax records it's probably notated as single family dwelling.
A bathroom and a sink and counter for snacks could be handy in a rec room or apt. The issue could just be the wall around the bedroom then...whether to leave or remove it.
All I know is, generally an odd layout doesn't show as well as a normal layout, so for resale purposes, you want it to be as versatile and ordinary looking as possible. 25 years later, my DH and I still talk about the house that had a sink in the upstairs hallway.
Our lower level has an office, guest bedroom, bathroom and the laundry room. It's a useful space and when we viewed the house, we weren't trying to figure out what the heck the former owner was thinking, or what the heck we would have to do with it to make it livable.
I also second the recommendation that you check and see whether an MIL apartment or rental space is lawful where you live. Where I used to live in Minneapolis, even an MIL apartment was against code.
We lived in a split level years ago and converted the bottom family room into our master bedroom because it was a) bigger and more important to us b) cooler in summer. But there's a growing market for MIL suites. I wouldn't throw money into remodeling to sell if it was my home to sell. Best of luck.
I had a tri-level in OH. Lowest level was kitchen, dining room, a den with laundry on one end, a half bath, a storage room with furnace/hot water heater, and a door (level with ground) to a back patio. Middle level was large living room, fireplace, cathedral ceiling, front door entry. Upper level was 3 bedrooms, one full bath.
IDK. As a single person who may have to take care of themselves more or less after some sort of surgery or even just a broken leg in a cast I won't buy a home that doesn't have a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen on the same floor. Preferably the easiest floor to get to from the garage or front door/least amount of steps.
So I have never considered a tri level because the only ones I've seen is the LR, Kitchen is main floor, bathrooms are up and down. The bedroom doesn't have to be a bedroom but there has to be at least a place to camp/sleep for the duration of recovery with bathroom and kitchen.
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