Recently we received a call from a realtor who asked us if we could come out and do a quick measurement on one of her listings to verify the GLA. About 30 years ago, the owners had done an addition of a detached 2 car garage, as well as a detached bedroom/office, and the realtor and owner were hoping that the extra SF would help them list the home higher.
We measured the home, and found that the detached room is about 221 SF. It is a finished room that was completed with permits, however, since the room was detached from the home and could not be directly accessed from the inside of the home, it should not technically be counted as GLA or lumped in with the GLA of the home. In order for finished, permitted area to be included in the GLA, it must be under the same roof and accessible from inside the home.
But this doesn't mean that extra area is useless! Depending on the space, it can potentially add value to the home and be seen as an added bonus for buyers. For example, we appraised a 3 bed/2 bath house that had a detached bathroom attached to the garage, by the pool. This didn't make the house a 3 bed/3 bath home, but it would probably appeal to buyers and possibly bump up offers.
Have you ever experienced detached living area as a homeowner, appraiser, or realtor? It can be complicated to deal with sometimes! What has your experience been?
