We hope to clarify one of the most misunderstood things when it comes to buying or selling a home, not just in the Sedona real estate market.
Sedona, AZ: To qualify as a bedroom, 5 elements must be present
Throughout the years I have heard many opinions on what constitutes a bedroom. The top misconception: to be a bedroom it needs to have a closet. Many historical homes don’t have closets and by popular misconception would thus have no bedrooms. It’s ridiculous. Today, flexible space (office, nursery, playroom, media room) are very popular. Without a closet it wouldn’t qualify in the minds of many but can you put an Armoire in there to serve as a closet? A lot of Sedona real estate agents are under a false impression that it can’t be a bedroom without a closet. This thinking can cost sellers by under valuing the house. Sedona homes are built under the International Residential Code (IRC). The IRC doesn’t require closets in bedrooms.
#1- You need a minimum of two ways to egress a bedroom. Usually a door and window’. A door to the exterior works a well. In accordance with the International Residential Code, bedroom windows, to qualify as egress, need to be at least 24 inches wide X 44 inches from the floor with at least a 5.7 square foot opening and at least 24 inches high and 20 inches wide (R310.1).
#2- A minimum of half of the ceiling must be at least 7 feet in height. Since most ceilings are 8+ feet high this is almost never an issue (R305.1).
#3- The room must be a minimum of 70 square feet and it can’t be under 7 feet wide in either direction. (R304.2 / R304.4).
#4- How close is the bedroom to a bathroom? Is it reasonable? Do you have to go through another bedroom to get to it?
#5- What’s the local norm? Room size, exits, light, and ventilation all are consideration when defining a bedroom (IRC).
The IRC doesn’t state a bedroom must have a closet. What we have to ask though, Does the city/county government have a requirement outside the IRC?
You may hear some real estate professional say closets are required, it’s not really true two reasons:
1. The International Residential Code does not state that bedroom must have a closet.
2. If local real estate market considers the rooms bedrooms then they are bedrooms. Ultimately closets are not required by building code but they may be expected required by local code (not Sedona, Yavapai or Coconino Counties).
Lastly, I’m no appraiser so if this is an issue for you call an appraiser or the local government (City or County).
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