raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095 
|
Post by raindancer on Oct 11, 2015 22:26:19 GMT
I'm not sure how to determine if they count or not, and I have never heard of a bonus room here in Tucson. We also don't have basements, does that get counted in the square footage?
|
|
|
|
Post by leannec on Oct 11, 2015 22:29:50 GMT
Dh is a realtor and here in Canada a bonus room is counted in the square footage as long as it is above ground ... Here, they are usually in newer two storey homes ... situated above the garage  |
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 1:15:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2015 22:48:33 GMT
Bonus rooms here are counted in the square footage. The "bonus room" term seems to be getting replaced with "flex room" or "media room" around here.
Basements are if they are completely finished and have the access requirements to be considered living space. Since we have a lot of hills around here, wee have lots of homes with daylight basements and those are part of square footage. A basement with no outside exit, even if finished, can't be counted as far as I know.
|
|
|
|
Post by Bitchy Rich on Oct 11, 2015 22:55:00 GMT
I had thought that bonus rooms were always a finished space above the garage. Is that not correct?
|
|
|
|
Post by librarylady on Oct 11, 2015 23:01:01 GMT
I was once told that if the room had heat and/or air conditioning, it was counted in the square footage.
|
|
Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,770
Location: Kentucky
|
Post by Kerri W on Oct 11, 2015 23:06:14 GMT
In our area square footage is listed as above-grade finished or unfinished and below-grade finished or unfinished. The name of the room (i.e. "bonus room") wouldn't change how the square footage is listed.
|
|
|
|
Post by christine58 on Oct 11, 2015 23:20:57 GMT
My basement has heat but it's not finished so it does not--did not--count in my square footage.
|
|
|
|
Post by CarolT on Oct 11, 2015 23:48:32 GMT
In our area, a bonus room is usually an extra living space that doesn't have another "defined" use - it might be a loft area, a separate room without a closet (so not a bedroom) that might be something like a playroom, office, or craft room. Since it's finished and part of the "interior" and is climate controlled, it would count in the square footage. Here, garages, workshops, and sheds are not included in the square footage (we don't have basements).
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 1:15:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2015 23:50:29 GMT
Here square footage includes anything that is temp-controlled.
|
|
paget
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,752
Jun 25, 2014 21:16:39 GMT
|
Post by paget on Oct 11, 2015 23:52:45 GMT
Our bonus room is above our detached garage and even though it has heat is not counted in our square footage. Bonus rooms in houses are counted- basements need to meet living criteria.
|
|
Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,770
Location: Kentucky
|
Post by Kerri W on Oct 12, 2015 0:13:23 GMT
It should be pointed out that this is not a black and white answer. Different real estate commissions are going to look at the question differently and the market is going to dictate differences in different areas.
|
|
|
|
Post by papercrafteradvocate on Oct 12, 2015 0:55:44 GMT
If it has 2 means of egress, electric and heat source, it is counted.
|
|
|
|
Post by melanell on Oct 12, 2015 0:59:02 GMT
Around here they typically consider any heated, finished space. So an unfinished basement would not be counted, nor would a heated garage. But a heated, finished bonus space above a garage would be counted. If it was unfinished and used as attic space, then no.
Any finished rooms in the basement would count. But a screened in porch or a 3-season room that was unheated, would not count.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 1:15:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2015 1:09:13 GMT
Here, it's if the space is finished, it counts.
|
|
|
|
Post by buddysmom on Oct 12, 2015 1:18:24 GMT
I have previously checked on zillow (just to be a nosy neighbor) and homes that I *KNOW* are smaller--are stated with a larger square footage.
They are including the garage (we don't have basements here).
So that really skews the numbers and the price per square foot.
Here it is supposed to be square feet under air.
|
|
|
|
Post by mom on Oct 12, 2015 1:31:56 GMT
The ANSI standard is to not count anything below ground (finished or not), porches can be counted if they are enclosed and heated, garages never count. If there is a finished room, above an attached garage, then it can count. If the garage in not attached, it doesn't count.
There is also a ceiling height requirement (7 ft) that is a minimal for it to be included and certain rules for rooms with slanted ceilings.
"Bonus' rooms are any rooms that legally (according to ANSI standards) do not fit into their universal standard - for whatever reason. They may not be finished, might not have two ways to escape in case of fire, may not be attached to a home (like a pool house). They just can't be considered as actual square footage.
|
|
|
|
Post by nlwilkins on Oct 12, 2015 1:32:35 GMT
I was told there is a square foot number under roof and then there is a square foot number of livable space. The garage and workshop area counts in the under roof while the livable area is bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, etc. We saw bonus rooms that came from behind the garage with windows, but no heat or air and then we saw bonus rooms that looked just like extra dining rooms or bedrooms without closets. It seemed that the only reason some were not considered another bedroom is the lack of closets.
|
|
caangel
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,462
Location: So Cal
|
Post by caangel on Oct 12, 2015 1:49:07 GMT
I was told there is a square foot number under roof and then there is a square foot number of livable space. The garage and workshop area counts in the under roof while the livable area is bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, etc. We saw bonus rooms that came from behind the garage with windows, but no heat or air and then we saw bonus rooms that looked just like extra dining rooms or bedrooms without closets. It seemed that the only reason some were not considered another bedroom is the lack of closets. Here and most places bedrooms must have a closet, 2 means of egress (usually a door and window with at least a 20 in wide x 24 in tall opening) , and be 70sf. If you are lacking one of those items it can not be called a bedroom. |
|
|
|
Post by jamielynn on Oct 12, 2015 1:54:47 GMT
In our area anything fully finished and living space is counted. If a basement is in any form unfinished it isn't counted, and if "bedrooms" aren't legal (wrong kind of doors, missing required egress Windows), they aren't classified as bedrooms either. Many people have those around here (no fire exits) ... Scary!
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 1:15:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2015 2:15:46 GMT
I think it varies by state. I was just looking online at a home in my area. It's listed as 3123 square feet. On the breakdown of the property details, you can see the basement is not finished. All bedrooms and bathrooms are on the first floor (1553 sq feet).
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 1:15:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2015 2:17:33 GMT
I had thought that bonus rooms were always a finished space above the garage. Is that not correct? I thought the same thing. |
|
raindancer
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,095
|
Post by raindancer on Oct 12, 2015 2:50:30 GMT
Thanks everyone for all the helpful input. I appreciate it all!
It's so hard to tell size by photos even with furniture. Hopefully the narrowing down online will help so when I go in person I just have a smaller list to visit.
|
|
|
|
Post by genealopea on Oct 12, 2015 3:28:33 GMT
Bonus rooms aren't always over garages. In my house, our bonus room is above our family room. Two bedrooms are over our garage.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
May 19, 2024 1:15:26 GMT
|
Post by Deleted on Oct 12, 2015 6:44:50 GMT
When we sold our larger home, the finished basement square footage was not included but we were able to list the bathroom in that level in the total count. When the next owners sold it, they had split one of the basement rooms into an extra bedroom so it listed with an extra bedroom than we had listed it.
|
|
