Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
It is my understanding that a detached guest house appraises as a lower priced "line item" rather than added to main house square footage. Given this, what ultimately determines that guest quarters are part of the main house and therefore included in overall square footage?
Seems ridiculous to construct as "detached" and have it appraise for less than what it cost to build.
It is my understanding that a detached guest house appraises as a lower priced "line item" rather than added to main house square footage. Given this, what ultimately determines that guest quarters are part of the main house and therefore included in overall square footage?
Seems ridiculous to construct as "detached" and have it appraise for less than what it cost to build.
Thank you.
It is an improvement, and like many improvements, doesn't return its cost in appraisal.
It is an improvement, and like many improvements, doesn't return its cost in appraisal.
Thanks.
It begs the question:
Why would anyone choose to build a "detached" guest house if they could "attach" it and add to the higher-valued livable square footage of the main house?
It begs the question:
Why would anyone choose to build a "detached" guest house if they could "attach" it and add to the higher-valued livable square footage of the main house?
Privacy.
Lot and home configuration.
Utilities locations.
Don't block natural light into the existing home.
Easier engineering and design.
It is my understanding that a detached guest house appraises as a lower priced "line item" rather than added to main house square footage.
If you have an appraisal on your property that did that, upload it so we can take a look at it.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eutychus2.0
what ultimately determines that guest quarters are part of the main house and therefore included in overall square footage?
If it shares a wall with the house, it's attached. If it doesn't, it isn't.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eutychus2.0
Seems ridiculous to construct as "detached" and have it appraise for less than what it cost to build.
It happens. Could just as easily go the other way. There are many factors involved and market value often has nothing to do with building cost.
There are places in California where you can build a house for $500,000 and it will sell for a million. There are places in Alabama where you can build a house for $500,000 and it will sell for $250,000. After the real estate crash of 2006 houses were selling for half of what they cost to build.
Depending on the area, the detached guest quarters can be valued the same as the main dwelling. Just because it is on a separate line, doesn't mean the adjustment is any bigger or smaller than living area.
It doesn't matter if it is detached or attached guest quarters. In order for area to be included in living area, there must be interior access.
There are several places in my area where the guest quarters are valued by the market the same as living area, and there is no difference, other than where it is listed on the grid.
How it appraises depends on your area. Here we have houses with an ADU as there is a huge push to have them with our housing issues. There are enough of them that appraisers can use them as comps.
Many people rent them, AirBnB them, or have an adult child or parents live in them. That is why they want them separate from the main house. Here, they add value, but that might be different for different areas.
"It has to be attached to the main house and have direct access within main house to be valued the same." Kind of defeats the point of a private guest casita. lol
His final point was that guest house sq footage is almost always a lower valued line item than the main house because yard, landscaping, pool, garage, etc, is backed out of the calculations.
"It has to be attached to the main house and have direct access within main house to be valued the same." Kind of defeats the point of a private guest casita. lol
.
So based on this definition, it would seem you get more value out of the house if you convert the attached garage into a living space. You can use it as a private guest casita.
Does the house appraised for less without an attached garage?
If it shares a wall with the house, it's attached. If it doesn't, it isn't.
Does there have to be a door between where they are attached for the square footage to be counted?
I would like to ask the real estate and/or appraisal experts if the following designs would allow for shared square footage:
1. Porte-cochère that is designed in such a way as that it is linked to the main house and has its own cottage attached, possibly with the area above the drive through sharing a finished attic.
2. Would the following house (or similar) with Porte-cochère count all the square footage together? It looks sort of like what I was imagining.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
