House listed as 4 bedrooms but only 3 are legal
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Anonymous
An adult technically should know there needs to be a safe way out of a bedroom that a full grown bigger adult can get through (better a fire fighter with full gear). |
Anonymous
Ha Yeah maybe should but I’m sure most don’t. My usually smart and worldly bank exec husband did not. We bought a house where the previous owners had a large theater in an interior room room of the walk out basement. DH first comment was we could turn it into an mini apartment because it had a wetbar and attached bath. I knew from a previous real estate search conversation 10 years before (but I didn’t know before and I was 40 at the time ) about egress and I am curious mindset and pick up On small details In conversation. But DH is more of a know-it-all and big picture, so forget or didn’t hear. 
Actually thinking about it now, where we were from before moving to DMV, most homes were newish and mass built in subdivisions so a bedroom without a window was unheard of. |
Anonymous
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Not a big deal.
Just get estimates to finish the job and ask for discount. |
Anonymous
| I don’t understand, is someone going to be sleeping in it? My house was listed as five bedrooms but the one in the basement clearly isn’t, and it didn’t occur to me to care because we don’t use it as a bedroom? |
Anonymous
This could affect your appraisal, which could affect the amount you are approved for. Do you have the cash to make up the difference if that happens? |
Anonymous
Until there’s a fire or other emergency and you can’t exit. |
Anonymous
You can’t knowingly list something as a bedroom that isn’t a legal bedroom. It’ll also impact appraisal and thus ability to borrow against your house. Could have negative impacts down the pike. Might not matter to you, but there are negative effects. |
Anonymous
Yeah, you should have caught that on your own OP. Is this the first time you’re buying a house? |
Anonymous
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This is actually quite common. We had a fourth room in our basement that was big and had a huge closet, but a tiny basement window that you wouldn't be able to get out of if there is a fire. We used it as an office.
If you aren't planning on using it as a bedroom, you don't have a big safety concern. Just buy the house. You can try to negotiate down a bit if the market will allow for it, but I wouldn't worry too much about it. If you need a house with four bedrooms, walk away and keep looking given the safety concerns. |
Anonymous
If it is in a basement, that might not be possible. |
Anonymous
You would just have to create an egress window. Very common. |
Anonymous
| Where are you? Because pretty much every single "4 bedroom" house in N. Arlington is really a 3 bedroom with an office or a den. |
Anonymous
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What is the open permit for? Cutting the basement foundation to make an exitable window? That can be hard and depending on where grade level is, leak.
You are buying a 3 br house with an office. Look at comps and pay accordingly because your mortgage lender sure will know the difference. Walk away or get a big price reduction. The seller lied, the listing agent lied, and unless there is ongoing construction the "permit" is lipstick on a pig. We have a 3 br house. The 3rd br is off the living room. There are 2 big rooms in the basement that are not legal bedrooms. If we list, it's 3 br not 4 or 5. |
Anonymous
Ok Daddy Warbucks. Not everyone on DCUM has bought a dozen houses.  OP, you have an opening to negotiate a lower price or drop the house.
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Anonymous
You can ask for whatever you want. They'll refuse. So, are you going to close or naw? It isn't like you have any recourse or anything. Did you think you did? |