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The simple definition of the square footage of a house is the area of the living spaces contained within its walls. However, there's a lot more to the concept of square footage.
Certain parts of a house are excluded from square footage calculations, and some that you might not think of are included. And others might have some gray area in regards to whether they should be included or not. To be clear, there's no official laws that dictate how square footage is to be measured. For example, one real estate brokerage might include unfinished basements while others won't. With that in mind, the American National Standards Institute ANSI issues guidelines for calculating square footage that are widely regarded as the industry standard.
So let's take a look at what is and is not included under these standards. You'll see what I mean as we go through the included items, but the general rule is that spaces that share the same heating and AC as the main home, conform to the home's overall architectural standards, and are located above ground are included in the total square footage. For this reason, the terms square footage and finished square footage are often used interchangeably. Here's a list of the parts of your house that are generally included in the square footage calculation using ANSI standards Note: These standards apply specifically to houses, not condominiums or apartments.
One thing to keep in mind is that the heating and air conditioning requirements only apply in markets where they're warranted. For example, when my wife and I bought a home in South Florida, it wasn't heated, but the living spaces were still included in the square footage. It's also worth noting that there can be significant grey area with some of these items. For example, if an enclosed patio is tied into the home's HVAC system but is clearly not built to the same standards as the other living spaces, there can be a solid argument for or against including it in the home's square footage.
In situations like this, it's a good idea to defer to the opinion of a professional appraiser. While it's not a set-in-stone requirement, ANSI standards generally exclude any spaces that aren't climate-controlled, any spaces that don't have four walls, any unfinished spaces, and any structures that aren't physically attached to the main home. This includes, but is not necessarily limited to:.
Official square footage calculations are done by professionals. For example, an appraiser will likely calculate the square footage number that's recorded for your home for tax records, your local assessor's office, and other legal purposes. If figuring out how to calculate square feet of a house feels overwhelming, it might be best to hire a professional appraiser.
While two different professional appraisers could evaluate the same home and come up with slightly different square footage figures, they aim for scientific accuracy. How We Make Money. Jennifer Bradley Franklin. Written by. Jennifer Bradley Franklin is a multi-platform journalist and author, often covering finance, real estate and more. Edited By Deborah Kearns. Edited by. Deborah Kearns. Share this page.
Key Principles We value your trust. Why measure square footage? Many of those squares stacked up against one another equal a whole wall, floor, sheet of fabric, wall paper, etc. If you need to translate the square footage area into square inches more common for smaller items , follow the basic equation, but multiply the length and width measurements by 12 because there are 12 inches in one foot. If you need to translate the square footage area into square yards more common for fabrics , follow the basic equation, but divide the length and width measurements by 3 because there are 3 feet in one yard.
If you need to calculate the area in square meters for the metric system , follow the basic equation, but divide the length and width measurements by 0.
Rectangular rooms: To calculate the area of a room or area with a square or rectangle shape, simply follow the formula. Rooms with closets: Rooms with closets are like rectangular rooms with small rectangular add ons. Calculate the square footage of each rectangle, and add them together. Odd-shaped rooms: The standard tool for area measure is something you can apply even to odd-shaped rooms. All you need to do is break the room down into separate areas that are easy to calculate on their own and then add up the results.
In a residential real estate context, your usable square footage is the surface area of your personal space in the household, versus the common areas like hallways, storage closets, and shared spaces such as kitchens and living rooms.
After measuring each room, add up the total. For example, if there are three rooms in your house measuring square feet, 80 square feet, and square feet, the total square footage of your home will be square feet. To measure a room with closets, simply measure each closet separately by multiplying length by width.
For example, if your closet measures 3 feet by 8 feet, your closet is 24 square feet in total. After measuring each closet, add the total square footage in each closet, plus the square footage of the room where the closets are.
While a national standard for measuring square footage is not currently in place, an organization called the American National Standards Institute ANSI provides guidelines on how to calculate square feet of a house, which many real estate agents and homeowners follow. Many condominiums do not have square footage guidelines in place and do not always follow ANSI guidelines.
When calculating square footage, real estate agents typically use a laser distance measurer, which is an electronic tool that is easier and less cumbersome to use than a measuring tape. To use the laser distance measurer, place the device on one wall and aim it at the wall directly across from it. The device will then display the square footage on the screen.
While less common, there are certain circumstances where buyers or renters are unable to tour the property in person and may buy or rent a home without visiting it first. Even if you have physically visited the home and completed measurements on your own, it is always a good idea to double-check square footage measurements to ensure your numbers are correct.
Some cities and counties have property records available online. If you are preparing to buy a property and are working with a real estate agent, your agent may be able to pull additional information on the property depending on the programs the agent has access to. For example, some agents pay for a tax record search service that provides information regarding the roof type, room count, square footage, and additional details.
The downside is: if you or your real estate agent obtain that information and the square footage is different than what you have, the tax assessor may have been wrong when the measurements were put in the record, or you may have missed or added some square footage without realizing it.
The property may have also had improvements completed without a permit. If that is a possibility, permit information can be accessed by contacting the city planning department.
Hiring an appraiser is typically only helpful if you are selling your home on your own. If you are working with a real estate agent, your agent will most likely be skilled at taking accurate measurements — as they have likely measured countless homes throughout their career.
They should also provide an accurate list price based on their knowledge of the real estate market. When an appraiser calculates the square footage of a home, it will only measure interior spaces that are heated and cooled. This includes bedrooms and closets , bathrooms, hallways, kitchen, and living areas, as well as enclosed patios, and finished attics. The garage does not count towards the square footage of a house, as that is considered an unfinished space.
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