Does this count as a bedroom? It depends…
Counting bedrooms in your home may seem pretty straight forward. But the moment you want to sell your home, it becomes a bit more complicated.
Sellers tend to want to count more bedrooms, but buyers have a more conservative view of what actually constitutes a bedroom.
Sellers also tend to think that more bedrooms will bring more buyers or a higher price, but that’s not always the case.
Some buyers may be overwhelmed if you claim you have a 5-bedroom home when they only need 3-4.
That’s why it’s important to be honest. Don’t call your house a 3-bedroom if the third bedroom is a tiny nook or a loft that can’t really be used as a sleep space. There’s nothing worse than touring a home and not being able to find that third bedroom!
The number of bedrooms in a home depends on who is counting! A seller, a buyer and an appraiser may all have different opinions.
Is there a magic number?
In the Greater Cincinnati real estate market, the average number of bedrooms for a single family home is 3 and just 2 bedrooms for condos.
Bedroom Requirements
A bedroom must have a closet, a window and must measure at least 7′ X 9′.
If the room is below grade, it must have an egress to the outdoors that is easily accessible.
Most appraisers will not count below grade rooms in the overall room count because Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA and VA loans only consider above grade rooms in total room count.
It’s okay (and common) to have a bedroom in the basement. But understand not all buyers want to sleep or put children in the basement. It may serve as a great office space or guest bedroom.
