Model Home Garage Finish

[George Stolz]

It's a pretty common practice in my area as well.

I would say that I would require receptacles to 210.52. If this is a dwelling unit (which it is, regardless of model status for the moment), then the AHJ has a strong case for the required outlets.

One concern I'd have on a TCO is, does it impede the sale of a house? For example, when we bought our place, we were not supposed to be able to get financed until the house was "purged". That's where the title of the doublewide (yes, I'm high class ) is surrendered and the house becomes part of the property legally. It didn't happen, and we only fixed it recently when we refinanced.

So, if a house can slip through the cracks with a TCO, then perhaps it would be better to just consider the office space in the garage as a permanent feature, and then they can pull another permit someday if they remove it?

I for one would love to buy one of these houses if I had a small business or some other use for it. It would be a great place to get away from distractions. It boggles my mind when builders insist on removing the offices before putting the model for sale. It could be easily communicated to a buyer that the garage will be reverted at no charge.

 

[allenwayne]

Not sure how you guys do things.....But in my area we wire a garage/ model office with two different scenarios.#1 the actual garage,be it GDO receps ,irrigation recep, GFCI(s).Then we wire the actual model office generally a color room or a sales office.Some conversians, have to be reassigned a permit due to commercial to residential application. that falls under the code of the time it was built.Delete the office circuit and retain the original garage circuits then all is good.Change anything in the original garage wireing then it has to be up too todays codes.

 

[tallgirl]

I for one would love to buy one of these houses if I had a small business or some other use for it. It would be a great place to get away from distractions. It boggles my mind when builders insist on removing the offices before putting the model for sale. It could be easily communicated to a buyer that the garage will be reverted at no charge.

I've seen models "shown" with the sales office as a "game room" or "2nd family room" when a subdivision is starting to wind down.

I'm not sure I want to give up my garage, but I'd sure love to have the extra outlets and other goodies they put in models. Especially since I have to run an extension cord to the dart board whenever I have friends over and want to play

What I really want is one of those quartz electric radiant heaters so when I work on my old Chevy in the winter I can stay warm. Anyone have a recommended model and some, uh, tips on how I might install one myself? (ducking, grinning and running ... )

 

[acrwc10]

What I really want is one of those quartz electric radiant heaters so when I work on my old Chevy in the winter I can stay warm. Anyone have a recommended model and some, uh, tips on how I might install one myself? (ducking, grinning and running ... )

Look in the Grainger catalogue, they have a large selection of then.

 

[cowboyjwc]

We consider these to be "commercial" since they are being used as a sales office and they have to be put back to a garage per our parking requirements.

The thing with them being commercial is that they have to have one accessible entrance and handicap parking along with a restroom.

We're seeing more modulars coming in as sales offices now since it really is a pain to convert the garage and then convert it back.

 

[allenwayne]

Last year I turned 10 model homes into resales (end of the project)They were listed as commercial properties since they were used as sales centers etc.The C.O.`s were commercial and had to be changed to SFR C.O.`S.All went good until the E.I. wanted in use covers for the exterior gfci receptacles and also wanted working clearance for the meter since after 4 years the bushes grew up around the meters.I wanted to dispute the whole thing but the GC said lets just do what he wants so we can get the C.O.`S
The GC was charged for the inuse covers and the landscaper was paid to remove and patch the bushes.I would have fought it tooth and nail if I had a choice,but they paid and it was redesignated SFR and sold.