Need advice re Appraisal with an illegal unit

We are in contract to purchase a house that moved the rental unit from the top floor to the basement. The current owners live in the parlor/1st floor and the 2nd floor and their brother lives in the basement.  We intend to use the home as a single family residence.  We are scheduling an appraisal and I am concerned about having what I think is an illegal unit in the basement with a full kitchen (it is about 2/3 below curb level).  Is it necessary to have the stove moved and the exhaust removed for the appraisal?

mbw185

in Appraisals 13 years ago

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vthatcher | 12 years and 11 months ago

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I would pull the stove out if its a single family- the appraiser will do one of two things- call it a summer kitchen, and state its common to the area or call it illegal and require another fee to go back and confirm its been removed.     Vanessa Thatcher Senior Loan Officer NMLS# 41404    Atlantic Home Capital 4175 Veterans Memorial Hwy Ste 310 Ronkonkoma, NY 11779   Office: 631-687-3510 x106 Direct Fax: 631-918-5222 Cell: 631-672-4113

dazednconfused2 | 12 years and 11 months ago

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Not relaxed.  Just different.  Full bathroom (3-piece) is allowed in a cellar if there are no other rooms besides a boiler room and closets less than 60 square feet, and the cellar is driectly accessible to the apartment above, among a few other things.  This is a new ruling, out within the last year or so.

deano | 12 years and 11 months ago

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on a related note — I heard recently that the 2-piece bathroom rule was being relaxed and 3-piece baths were somehow acceptable in these spaces?  anyone hear similar?

dazednconfused2 | 12 years and 11 months ago

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If the appraisal is just for the value of the home, then tell them to ignore the kitchen.  Bklnite is basically right, except that you’re talking about a cellar not a basement.  A basement is 50% above grade.  And a “wet bar” is not necessarily allowed.  By code, the only sink allowed is a laundry sink or the lav in a powder room, or in some cases within a full bath.  A kitchen sink is not allowed, nor is the gas for the stove.

Bklnite | 12 years and 11 months ago

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My understanding is that in a basement (more than 50% below grade) you’re allowed to have a “wet bar” (sink / fridge, but no stove) and a 2 piece bathroom (toilet & sink but no shower/tub). So you might want to have the stove moved. If the exhaust was made inconspicuous I don’t think you’d need it removed. The seller’s broker may also have advice on this – presumably you have a mortgage contingency so they don’t want a problem with the appraisal to kill the deal.