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How would you use this bonus space in Silver Spring, MD?

By
Real Estate Agent with Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 MD594797

Imagine you just bought a house on a double lot combining to a beautiful 1 acre in Silver Spring, MD (just off New Hampshire Ave!), and it came with a fully finished bonus space, attached to the back of the oversized garage but detached from the main house, with gorgeous daylight, electric, heat & A/C.. how would you use it? 

Would you put in a:

A) home office

B) home gym

C) music or art studio

D) something else

A dedicated guest suite would be fabulous, however, there's no bathroom (at this time). The oversized 2-car garage has plenty of space, and - theoretically - enough to create a bathroom (pending county approval). Maryland just having passed new ADU legislation (SB891/HB1466) should make it easier to install ADUs or convert existing structures in the future; so there is some real potential here.  

How would you utilize this space? Let me know in the comments what you think!

P.S. Yes, this property is going to hit the market soon: one-level living on two buildable half-an-acre lots with an oversized garage & bonus space. 

Posted by

Andrea Bedard
Thompson Co., REALTORS®

Silver Spring, Maryland
andreabedard.com

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Comments(7)

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Katina Hargrove 352-551-0308
Stake Your Land Realty, Inc. - Eustis, FL
Broker/Owner, SFR®, e-PRO®, GRI, AHWD, REALTOR®

Andrea Bedard 

Great ideas, I had a customer who actually made it into a reading room. That was the special room for reading the favorites over and over.

May 20, 2025 04:48 PM
Andrea Bedard

I LOVE this idea, Katina Hargrove 352-551-0308! It's a rainy day today in Maryland, so today especially I can picture myself sneaking out to my she-shed-library and getting cozy in an oversized chair with a good book and a cup of tea. This is a dream!

May 21, 2025 12:38 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Associate Real Estate Broker

Simple applications are just as detailed, to extend it into a modified ADU would require extension construction. Good Luck with the listing.

May 20, 2025 06:17 PM
Andrea Bedard

Thanks, Ed Silva, 203-206-0754! I am exploring all the possibilities to present to potential buyers. The potential for an ADU is exciting! 

May 21, 2025 12:39 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Andrea - possibilities are endless and that's a real bonus to visionary buyers.  Brainstorming Alert!

May 21, 2025 03:32 AM
Andrea Bedard

Right?! We asked on Facebook as well, and - so far - the frontrunner is wellness space/home gym. Thanks, Michael Jacobs

May 21, 2025 12:40 PM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Good morning, Andrea... there's no right answer for this question... it so much depends on the homeowners' life stage and needs. I don't think there's a wrong or right answer.

May 21, 2025 04:57 AM
Andrea Bedard

Thank you, Nina Hollander, Broker! Oh, it's very personal for sure but it is interesting what people come up with. I am planning on staging it so it's been helpful what people think of first! 

May 21, 2025 12:42 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Hmmm, how big is the space?

May 21, 2025 05:25 AM
Andrea Bedard

It's 320 square feet, Kat Palmiotti. 80% is carpeted and the rest is tile (but that can also be changed), 3 windows let in a ton of daylight, and the view is of the lovely garden. 

May 21, 2025 12:43 PM
Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc - Walhalla, SC
Gwen Fowler Real Estate, Inc.

I would have an insulated and soundproofed music room where I could play my music as loud as I wanted to.

May 21, 2025 07:09 AM
Andrea Bedard

That's what my daughter said, too, Gwen Fowler SC Lakes & Mountains 864-710-4518! It is insulated & drywalled. Adding some soundproofing shouldn't be too difficult. Thank you!  

May 21, 2025 12:44 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

It looks like a great opportunity to utilize the space as an ADU. Maybe an AirBNB?. Some vision and some money could provide dividends to the new owner for years to come.

May 25, 2025 10:27 AM
Andrea Bedard

I think so, too! Maryland just passed a law that should make it easier to convert bonus space into an ADU. 

May 25, 2025 02:02 PM