Will removing a meter mean my property can appraise as an SFR?

[Lauren Keen Aumond]

My husband and I bought a bed and breakfast in June for $285k that was being run as a commercial property in Tarpon Springs. We have not and will not renew any commercial licensing. There is a main home (built in 1901, 3/2.5, 1500 sf ish), a studio in-law suite (former 2-car garage, 520 sf), and a "she-shed" (120 sf, no kitchen, only bathroom).

When we bought it, the property appraised as a duplex (it also has a mobile home on it at the time, which was later removed). It appraised at $245k, then we contested and it appraised at $300k. The property use is "single family - multiple units per parcel" on the PCPAO site and the pervious owner had 25% homestead, we will have 100%. The footprint of the main house and the studio are on that website. The land use is "multi-fam <10 units."

The property has 2 electric meters: one for the top half of the main house, and one for the bottom half and the back units. The bottom meter is also connected to the jacuzzi (which we put in) and a 30 amp trailer hookup (from the mobile home, which we will use once the reno is done for our travel trailer). It only has one water meter.

Since we have put around $150k into the house (roof, structure, kitchen, floors, inside and outside paint, yard, fence), we would like to refinance and buy a (second) duplex with cash. Because of the appraisal/comp issue we had last time and due to a lower rate for an SFR, we want it to appraise as a single family home. Also, we are living in the house as our home. Our mortgage broker told us the two meters are a problem.

Finally, my questions:

1) Can we remove one meter? (Any ideas to process and cost would be appreciated.)

2) Is there any downside to removing the meter?

Thank you in advance. Sorry if not all info was relevant to the question at hand.