Can You Sell a House Bedroom Without Closet?

Bedrooms are a key selling feature for houses. Whether it has all the expected features can affect the house’s marketability. The simple answer to whether you can sell a house bedroom without a closet depends on your local zoning codes and what buyers in your area expect.

This is because the definition of a bedroom varies from city to city, depending on the local zoning codes. In some, a closet space is a vital element for a room to be considered a bedroom.

In which case, listing a room without a closet as a bedroom would not be suitable. In other areas, a closet space is not a requirement and may not affect potential buyers’ interest in your house.

Below, we will discuss what makes a room a bedroom and how you can sell a house bedroom without a closet.

What Are the Requirements for a Bedroom?

The International Building Code provides the minimum requirements for building family dwelling houses. It is keen on ensuring the safety of the dwellers. It emphasizes key features such as ventilation, number and position of the doors and windows, location of the bedroom, and ceiling height.

According to the International Residential Code (IRC), a closet is not required for a room to be considered a bedroom.

Below is an overview of the IRC requirements for a bedroom.

Means of Egress. A bedroom should have at least two exits to serve as emergency escapes. A door can be accessed from within the house and another exit outside the house—either another door or a window on the exterior wall.
Size. A bedroom should be at least 70 square feet. All the sides must be at least 7 feet in the horizontal direction.
Ceiling Height. Fifty percent of the room’s ceiling should be at least 7 feet tall. The shorter side should not be less than 5 feet tall as that area would be considered unsuitable for living. The corresponding floor square footage should be deducted when determining the bedroom’s floor space.
Location. At least one wall should be an exterior wall.
Electric outlets. Required
Closets. Not mandatory

The IRC is adhered to in 50 states in the US. However, each state provides additional bedroom requirements, such as:

A heating and cooling element. In some states, a window can be considered a means of air conditioning, but an air conditioner is required in others. Also, a heater may be mandatory.
Window size. Many states stipulate minimum window size for your bedroom. It varies depending on the room size, but the minimum allowable window size in a habitable room is 5.7square feet. It should be 44 inches or less from the floor.

Most homebuyers expect that any room listed as a bedroom has a closet space. Although listing a room without a closet as a bedroom may not have legal ramifications, it may affect the house’s marketability.

Always check with your local zoning codes for the requirements of a bedroom before listing your house to determine what is expected and how many bedrooms to list to improve your chances of the house selling fast at a reasonable price.

For instance, the local codes in Alabama require a bedroom to have a closet, while in California, a bedroom closet is not a requirement. Generally, a closet is not required in states with many old houses.

This is because closets are a fairly new addition to house architecture. Therefore, a bedroom closet is a typical requirement in most newer houses but may be overlooked in older houses.

How Will a Bedroom Without a Closet Affect Your Listing?

May Lower the Value of the Home

Generally, the higher the bedroom count in a house, the higher its market value. In most cases, when you list a house as a three bedroom, a potential buyer expects that it has three rooms with all the essentials of a bedroom, including a closet.

If one or two rooms do not have these features, potential buyers may consider it a two- or three-bedroom house. They may lose interest in the house or negotiate the listing price down to the market value of a two-bedroom house.

May Reduce the Pool of Potential Buyers

Closets have a high functional value in a bedroom. They provide storage space and enable organization. Therefore, if a bedroom does not have a closet, the homeowner will have to figure out how they will store their items.

Most modern home buyers would rather not worry about that. Therefore, they will not make an offer on the house and instead opt for one with closets in all the bedrooms.

May Compromise the Buyer’s Perception of the House

How you list the house may affect how a potential buyer perceives your integrity. For instance, the listing states the house has X number of bedrooms, but you do not point out that some of the rooms do not have a closet.

When the potential buyer views the house and finds out that the room does not have a closet, they may see it as a misrepresentation of the house. It could make them doubt what else you are misrepresenting about the house.

Options for Selling a House Bedroom Without Closet: Sell As Is or Install a Closet?

There are two main options for selling a house bedroom without a closet. You can either sell it as is and disclose it to the potential home buyer in the listing details or install a closet.

If you choose to sell the house as is, it is best to list the house per the number of bedrooms with closets and then describe the ones without extra space that can be used as an office, bonus room, playroom, lounge area, or additional bedroom.

Typically, the cost of installing a closet ranges between $1000 and $3000 per room, depending on the design and size of the closet, the materials used, and whether you DIY or hire a professional to do it for you. However, it can cost up to $10,000 for high-end closets.

In most municipalities, you do not need a permit to install a closet as long as the installation does not involve changing the house’s layout and costs less than $15,000.

Installation can take a few hours up to a few days, depending on the design and size. Therefore, it will not have a significant impact on your listing timeline.

The decision on which option to go with is really up to you. You may consult a real estate agent to help you determine the best cause of action. They will assess the real estate market trends in your area to determine whether or not bedrooms have a closet affect the house value and competitiveness.

You could also consult with an appraiser in your area on whether installing closets in all the bedrooms would increase the house’s value. Counter-check the house floor plan to establish how many bedrooms were stipulated when the house was designed and built.

Conclusion

A room does not have to have a closet to be considered a bedroom. However, most buyers expect that bedrooms, especially master bedrooms and other frequently used bedrooms, should have a closet.

Failure to indicate that a certain room listed as a bedroom does not have a closet may be construed as a misinterpretation of the house. Therefore, potential buyers may lose interest in the property or bargain the listing price.

To improve the competitiveness of the property on the market, consider installing a closet in the bedroom. Or, if you choose to list the house as is, indicate categorically that the bedroom does not have a closet to manage potential buyers’ expectations. If you are in Denver, contact webuyhousesindenver.org for a cash offer. Sell your house fast for cash.

Your Solution to Selling a House Without a Bedroom Closet

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