Garage to Bedroom Conversion

[Grant Schroeder]

The townhouse I recently purchased was the model unit for the entire complex and the contractors converted the garage to an office/den with a window and an exterior entrance. I currently am house-hacking and have two people living in this space since it is a larger room than the master bedroom. The only thing missing to qualify the room as a 4th bedroom is a heart source in the room. I am looking to get the house appraised for a HELOC in the next couple months and want to find the most cost effective way to get the townhouse appraised as a 4 bedroom instead of a 3 bedroom like the rest of the units in the complex. Should I begin simply by contacting the city for their recommendations? Would it be as simple as cutting a vent in the wall from the garage to the interior of the home to allow heat to flow into the room? Or would this require possiby having to run a duct from another area of the house? Thank you for your help BP community!