RCTGarage Types - CoreLogic

RCT Garage
Types
EDUCATIONAL SERIES

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: GARAGE

INTRODUCTION

Guide Outline: MSB’s Educational Series is designed to improve the accuracy of estimated
Descriptions for garage types in RCT reconstruction costs by enhancing our clients’ understanding of construction
Examples of garages terms and concepts that affect building costs. Each topic includes in-depth
Including SF for Built-in garages in the Total information that is designed to simplify complex concepts for insurance
Living Area (TLA) professionals. Our goal is to reduce training time, reduce subjectivity and
Explanation of garage finish areas improve input consistency leading to repeatable, accurate results.
Example of garages with blended types
Utilizing automated valuation tools, such as MSB’s Residential Component
Technology (RCT), is a highly reliable way of calculating reconstruction costs
for any home. However, the old adage continues to be true: Information is
only as good as the data input!

Key Terms: Garage Total component methodology calculates the reconstruction cost of a home
Attached from the ground up based on its unique house characteristic. The accuracy of
Detached the reconstruction estimate relies on the entry of home information. MSB
Built-in advocates that a RCT user enter 13 property characteristics in order to achieve
Basement the most accurate ITV.
Carport
• 5-Digit ZIP Code • Foundation
• Number of Families • Exterior Wall Material
• Year Built • Roofing Material
• Style • Attached Structures
• Number of Stories • Kitchens and Baths
• Total Living Area • Specialty Features
• Heating and Air

Conditioning

RCT has the ability to apply knowledge tables to fill in typical default building
characteristics of a home in a geographical segment when the actual
information is not readily available or is unknown. When the full profile of
property characteristics is not entered, RCT provides automatic inputs based
on location, age, and size of a home in order to calculate a replacement cost
estimate. Knowledge tables are intended to be used as a guide to determine
the reconstruction cost of a home on a localized basis; however, assumptive
property information should be verified with the homeowner for correctness
on an individual basis.

This guide focuses on Garage Types - outlining descriptions in each category
and pointing out differences that may exist within similar styles. Selecting the
correct type and finish is very important, as the unique building components
and associated costs are calculated based on the type chosen!

© Copyright 2012 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC All rights reserved. Not reproducible without permission. ID: ES-GAR/Pg 2 of 9/Rev.:3.0/6.2012

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: GARAGES

Garages in RCT

RCT provides the ability to configure estimates to
include areas of the property, such as garages.
Several options are available in RCT to account for
different types of garages including:

Attached Garage
Detached Garage
Built-in Garage
Basement Garage
Carport

When creating an estimate, it is important to
account for all the attributes of the home
including the type of garage, which may have a
high level of interior finish or in some cases even
have living space which will affect reconstruction
costs.

The RCT Garage guide will help you identify each Built-in Garage
type of garage.

Built-in (60%)/Attached (40%) Garage ID: ES-GAR/Pg 3 of 9/Rev.:3.0/6.2012

© Copyright 2012 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC All rights reserved. Not reproducible without permission.

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: GARAGES

Attached Garages

Attached Garages usually have interior space for one or more cars and typically have a door connecting the garage to the interior
of the house. RCT has the ability to select up to a five-car Attached Garage, or by using a square foot (SF) method. Any living space
above an Attached Garage which does not meet code as habitable living space, including minimum ceiling and wall height
requirements, should be entered into RCT as a Finished Attic.

Attached Garage
Note: In RCT, a Garage that is connected to the main home by an open or
closed Breezeway (see image below) is considered an Attached Garage.
Carriers should consider their specific policy language in regards to Coverage A
for attached structures with breezeways, such as extended coverage.

Attached Garage (with Breezeway) ID: ES-GAR/Pg 4 of 9/Rev.:3.0/6.2012

© Copyright 2012 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC All rights reserved. Not reproducible without permission.

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: GARAGES

Detached Garages

A Detached Garage is a freestanding structure
which may be used to protect vehicles, function as
a workshop or used for storage. RCT offers several
selections for Detached Garages which include:

Detached Garage 1 - 5 cars
Detached Garage Victorian 1 - 3 cars
Detached Garage w/Finish Area 1 - 5 cars
Detached Garage w/Finish Area, Victorian
1 - 3 cars

Some selections of Detached Garage may also be
entered into RCT by SF.

RCT also includes a selection for Detached Garage Detached Garage, 3 Cars
with Living Area Adjacent, which is an
independent structure with finished living space to
one side, whereas Living Area Over includes living
space above the garage. Both selections include
costs associated with having a kitchen and bath,
HVAC system, electrical and finish materials.

A Detached Garage with Area Over has an area
which is not considered living space. It is space
which is finished (without a kitchen) and may be
used as an office or storage. All three selections
require the SF to be entered.

Living Area Adjacent

Detached Garage, Area Over

From the outside, this garage looks no different than a Detached Garage
Living Area Over selection; however, on the inside it lacks a kitchen and only
has a half-bath. Access to the upstairs is only available from inside the garage.

Living Area Over

© Copyright 2012 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC All rights reserved. Not reproducible without permission. ID: ES-GAR/Pg 5 of 9/Rev.:3.0/6.2012

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: GARAGES

Built-in Garages

A Built-in garage is built into the residence at the first floor or grade level and has living space (as opposed to a finished attic space)
directly adjacent and above it. The living area over the garage covers more than half of the garage area. In RCT, the square foot
area of a Built-in garage is included in the Total Living Area (TLA).

In the example at the bottom of the page, a
1.5-Story Cape Cod home is connected to the
garage with living space directly over the garage.
The connection between the home and garage is
not a breezeway but an actual finished area that is
considered living space and therefore part of the
TLA.

Since the finished area above the garage meets 2-Story with Built-in Garage
the requirements to be considered a Half-Story,
the total garage space is also included in the TLA
with Built-in Garage selected. (See RCT TLA Guide
for more on Half-Story)

Note: If the area over the garage does not meet
the requirements for a Half-Story, then the
appropriate selection is Attached Garage with
finished attic space. A one-story home cannot
have a Built-in garage.

At least one-half
of nished square
footage must be 7’-0”
where ceiling slopes

1/2 Story 7’-0” Min.
5’-0” Min.
Split-Level with Built-in Garage

1.5-Story with Built-In Garage ID: ES-GAR/Pg 6 of 9/Rev.:3.0/6.2012

© Copyright 2012 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC All rights reserved. Not reproducible without permission.

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: GARAGES

Basement Garages

A Basement Garage has an entrance that is level with the basement floor, which can be partially or fully below grade depending on
the style of home. Below grade is usually relative to where the front door is, but not always. Take a look at the examples below. In
the bottom center image, the terrain slopes. In the bottom right image, the home is elevated. Yet both homes include walkout
basements. If the garage is part of what is considered a basement, then a Basement Garage should be selected. Select the
basement type by number of cars or by SF. Do not subtract the garage SF from the total amount of basement a home has when
entering % Basement field. If the basement is finished, enter the percentage of finished area excluding the garage area.

EXAMPLE: 1,000 SF home with full basement, 500 SF Basement Garage, 500 SF finished basement
ENTER: 100% Basement field and 100% Basement Finished field.

© Copyright 2012 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC All rights reserved. Not reproducible without permission. ID: ES-GAR/Pg 7 of 9/Rev.:3.0/6.2012

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: GARAGES

Carports

Carports are covered structures used to protect
vehicles from the elements. They are often
attached to a structure on one side and may have
additional sides which are closed in. Carports may
have a simple lean-to roof or may be constructed
as an extension of the roof from the main home.
Materials can vary from wood to metal for the
structure and utilizes common roofing materials.

© Copyright 2012 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC All rights reserved. Not reproducible without permission. ID: ES-GAR/Pg 8 of 9/Rev.:3.0/6.2012

EDUCATIONAL SERIES: GARAGES

Blending Types

RCT makes it possible to blend garage types by selecting the appropriate type and entering the number
of units or SF for each. In the following example, the user enters into RCT both the SF for Built-in and
Attached Garage separately. The area of the garage that projects from the exterior wall of the main part
of the home is considered the Attached Garage area.

Main Home

Built-In Garage Entry
Attached Garage

© Copyright 2012 Marshall & Swift/Boeckh, LLC All rights reserved. Not reproducible without permission. ID: ES-GAR/Pg 9 of 9/Rev.:3.0/6.2012