What Qualifies As a Bedroom in Tennessee?

Great question to put forth Debbie. Years ago I asked in Idaho. Only answer I could get was legal window for egress/ingress. That has now changed to also needing a closet. A closet though can be an armoire screwed into the wall. Mark

 Good morning Debbie. I have seen rooms that have been listed as bedrooms that are not bedrooms. This can be a very interesting topic for discussion.

Thanks for the post - sometimes agents (and sellers) optimistically overstate the number of bedrooms and buyers frequently (but not always) can tell that the room in the basement or over the garage etc etc is just not a bedroom - sometimes it is a question of code- but sometimes it is a question of common sense! 

It requires a door, a closet, and a window that opens of a certain size. An upstairs bonus room without a door does not constitute a bedroom even if the other criteria are met.

It's true - the answer really does depend on local codes.

Here it is a door, closet and egress window.  A windowless or closetless room doesn't count.

Any place you can lay your head, blanket and pillow is a bedroom...Now, when it comes to buying or paying for this place...uh uh...I dont think so

In North Carolina, we've always said a bedroom has to have a door, a window, and a closet. Although recently I heard that the NC Real Estate Commission indicated it didn't need to have a closet. But buyers expect a closet in what is labelled a bedroom. The septic issue here has also raised its ugly head. If a home was permitted for 3 bedrooms and a fourth was addes, it can't be sold as a 4 bedroom home until there's a new septic permit.

This is always an interesting question and I see it done incorrectly a lot of times when someone is marketing a home for sale.

I think our definition is the same as yours.....   need a window that works for egress, and a door , but not sure about the closet.   That can be so easily added....   Also the septic enters into the picture....

I believe it needs to have window and closet. I too have seen other Realtors list a bedroom that was in the basement and all it had was a bed in it. Doesn't qualify!

Hi Debbie - great post and I have seen homes in my area where they say it is a "bedroom" but it is not considered a bedroom unless there is a window for egress as you stated!! And it is misleading to the consumer!

In Colorado it needs to have an egress window and a closet to be considered a bedroom.  

Surprising what some agents put in the listing as bedrooms in our board. You're not fooling anyone and the wrong agent may make a complaint.

Hi Debbie -- while typically a bedroom in our market has a window and a closet, I've seen some rooms that seem to be masquerading as something they are not. You right to tell people to check with local codes.

 Our MLS lets you count bedroms but you have to disclose location. Below grade can not be listed in bedroom count. Bedroms ate defined per FHA rules.

I don't think we, in CA, have any limitation on the size of the room to be qualified as a bedroom, but the closet is the must, otherwise it is just a den.

Oh sure, we have creative configurations here in the urban core (DC), but I always caution clients (on either side)....they can market or intend to use it however they'd like, BUT let's understand how the appraiser will see it.

The Tennessee rules above pretty much are clear, and that's how it works here too. That's how the appraiser sees it too.

Thanks for the excellent post, Debbie.  Folks think that by advertising an extra bedroom they will get more activity.  But, if it's not really a bedroom or unpermitted, it may cost them dearly in their sale.

We don't have the basement issue here in FL, but we do have quite a few unpermitted garage to bedroom conversions.  Many of the same issues apply to these as well.  

Debbie, more to a bedroom than a closet and a door, especailly those homes with a septic tank! Enjoy your day!

Debbie, my sister bought a home and the listing stated, 3BR, 1BA, but when appraised it was a 2BR and we got the price reduced. The bedroom did not have a closet.