Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bedrooms over garages frequently need a barrier between the garage and the bedroom to prevent fumes from garage entering bedroom- (aka carbon monoxide). Bedrooms also need a secondary egress (usually a window that is low enough to the ground that child can climb up and big enough for an adult to escape.

Wait, what? What about second or third-story bedrooms, or apartment buildings?

The secondary egress doesn't need to be low enough to climb into or out of. Having an escape ladder handy is a good idea, however. As to changing to CofO to add a bedroom, why would you willingly get your assessment upped? Real estate listings and public tax records do not have anything to do with each other. I'm sure the county was very happy to bill you more for stupidity.

In real estate terms, a FROG is an acronym that stands for Finished Room over Garage. It may also be referred to as a bonus room, which is easily accessible from the main house. An unfinished bonus room in a house is known as an UnFROG.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bedrooms over garages frequently need a barrier between the garage and the bedroom to prevent fumes from garage entering bedroom- (aka carbon monoxide). Bedrooms also need a secondary egress (usually a window that is low enough to the ground that child can climb up and big enough for an adult to escape.

Wait, what? What about second or third-story bedrooms, or apartment buildings?

Apartments are different. Firefighters do have ladders, but modern apartment complexes have sprinklers, etc.

Anonymous wrote:Bedrooms over garages frequently need a barrier between the garage and the bedroom to prevent fumes from garage entering bedroom- (aka carbon monoxide). Bedrooms also need a secondary egress (usually a window that is low enough to the ground that child can climb up and big enough for an adult to escape.

Wait, what? What about second or third-story bedrooms, or apartment buildings?

I would prefer a realtor who I trusted, and I would not trust this one. He will be negotiating this deal for you and you want someone with whom you are comfortable. Our buyers agent was not honest with us and it made for a miserable experience.

What Is a Frog Room?
A frog room is the name of a finished room that is located above a garage in a house. In different buildings, the frog room is usually used for different purposes depending on its size and suitability. For instance, it can be used as a bedroom or play area.

It might be called FLEX room in the DC area.

Anonymous wrote:I wonder where the OP is that it's callled a FROG. I hadn't heard of that.

I am thinking maybe somewhere land is not as expensive as the DC area. I say this because you can do 1 story homes that sprawl without needing to have another story.

I wonder where the OP is that it's callled a FROG. I hadn't heard of that.

I wouldn't mind if that was a 4 bedroom. It's like it's own 3rd story room? Counts as a room to me since I could use that for guests.

I too am looking for a 4 bedroom, but would like a FROG or whatever that is.

So... would the OP be legally liable for nothing if this becomes an issue? Only downside is the realtor getting his wrist slapped (and perhaps a fine to the realtor only) and a few annoyed potential buyers?

You can have the Certificate of Occupancy changed from 3 to 4 bedrooms if it meets the criteria (see last post on page 1 for link to criteria.) We paid a lawyer to do this for a basement bedroom, so we could legally advertise the house as 4 bedroom.

This happens with crappy 2nd level additions all the time.

They add a new level but keep the same crappy layout on the first floor so you end up with 5-7 bedrooms and a crappy 1st floor layout.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As a buyer, NOTHING pisses me off more than showing up to a house that has been marketed at 4 bedrooms to find it really only has three and a random space that they are trying to pass off as a 4th.

I want a four bedroom house. It is a waste of your time and mine for me to come and look at a 3 bed.

So I'd advise against it.

You wouldn't buy this house anyway, so why should OP care that you're offended?

OP will care that time is wasted cleaning/prepping her house for useless showings

I would be turned off by the agent casually admitting to being untruthful and assuming that I would go along with it.

People search for a 4 bedroom house even when they only want or need a 3 bedroom. It's just the default - parent's room, Kid A and Kid B and room for guest/office.

My house only has three bedrooms, but it was listed as 5! I'm currently in the 4th room - a loft with two walls (OK it was an option when building to close this off and my neighbors have 4 rooms - but I bought the house with really only 3 bedrooms. The 5th bedroom was a basement space that I don't think passes code.

After I bought, I got the tax assessment changed.

Honestly, I would be concerned that he said he would take the heat and deal with it. He does not sound trustworthy, get another realtor in there and see what they say.