The short answer is: No — not always.
Let me explain.
If you’re purchasing a home built around the turn of the century (early 1900s), it’s very common for bedrooms to have no closets at all. Back then, closets weren’t standard in home construction. Most people stored clothing in a chifforobe or wardrobe furniture instead.
In those cases, appraisers often still count those rooms as bedrooms because the home meets the building standards of that time period.
To make sure I was giving the most accurate information, I consulted with a local appraiser. He shared that today, bedrooms are typically expected to have closets to be counted as official bedrooms.
However, there is an exception:
If a room is a decent size and has a proper emergency exit (such as a window or door for fire safety), an appraiser may still count it as a bedroom — but that decision ultimately depends on the appraiser completing the report.
The takeaway?
Closets matter more in modern homes, but older homes are often evaluated differently.
Real Talk. Real Results.