How To Check House Square Footage?
Quickly and accurately determine the size of your home! You can check house square footage by measuring each room’s length and width, calculating individual areas, and summing them for a total, or by consulting official documents like property tax records or blueprints.
Understanding the Importance of Accurate Square Footage
Knowing how to check house square footage is crucial for various reasons. From determining property value and calculating property taxes to planning renovations and even accurately listing your home for sale, the square footage acts as a fundamental measurement. An accurate square footage is a key component in establishing fair market value for your property and helps buyers make informed decisions. Underestimating can lead to selling for less than your property is worth. Overestimating can scare away potential buyers, as the property won’t meet their perceived size expectations and might raise concerns about potential misrepresentation. Getting it right from the start provides transparency and builds trust.
Methods for Checking House Square Footage
There are several approaches to determining the square footage of your home. The best method depends on your resources, desired accuracy, and the complexity of your home’s layout.
- Manual Measurement: This involves physically measuring each room and calculating its area.
- Reviewing Official Documents: County records, tax documents, and original blueprints often contain square footage information.
- Professional Appraisal: Hiring a professional appraiser ensures accurate measurement and a legally defensible square footage.
Manual Measurement: A Step-by-Step Guide
This is a hands-on approach. It requires some simple tools and basic math skills.
- Gather Your Tools: You’ll need a measuring tape (at least 25 feet), paper, a pen or pencil, and a calculator. A laser measuring tool can increase accuracy and ease the process, especially in large rooms.
- Sketch a Floor Plan: Create a rough sketch of each room, noting walls, doorways, and any significant features like fireplaces or built-in cabinets.
- Measure Each Room: Measure the length and width of each room from wall to wall. Be precise; even small errors can accumulate. Record these measurements on your sketch.
- Calculate the Area of Each Room: For rectangular rooms, multiply the length by the width to get the area in square feet. Area = Length x Width.
- Account for Irregular Shapes: If a room is not perfectly rectangular, divide it into smaller, manageable rectangles and triangles. Calculate the area of each smaller shape and add them together. For triangles, the area is Area = 0.5 x Base x Height.
- Add Up All Areas: Sum the areas of all rooms to get the total square footage of the house.
- Exclude Unfinished Areas: Do not include unfinished areas like unfinished basements, attics with low ceiling heights, or garages in your square footage calculation. These areas are typically counted separately, if at all.
Understanding Inclusions and Exclusions
Knowing what to include and exclude from your square footage calculation is vital for accuracy.
- Inclusions:
- Finished living spaces with standard ceiling heights (typically 7 feet or higher).
- Stairways connecting finished levels.
- Closets.
- Exclusions:
- Unfinished basements, attics, and garages.
- Porches, patios, and decks (unless they are enclosed and heated/cooled as living space).
- Areas with ceiling heights below 7 feet.
- Exterior walls. Measure from the inside of the exterior walls.
Using Official Documents for Square Footage Information
Official documents can provide a quick reference point, but it’s important to understand their limitations.
- Property Tax Records: Often provide an estimated square footage. However, these figures might not be entirely accurate or up-to-date.
- Blueprints: If available, blueprints offer the most accurate square footage information. Look for a detailed floor plan with dimensions.
- Previous Appraisal Reports: If a previous appraisal exists, it will contain the square footage based on professional measurement standards.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Checking Square Footage
Avoiding these pitfalls ensures a more accurate and reliable result.
- Inaccurate Measurements: Using a short measuring tape or rounding measurements can lead to significant errors.
- Including Unfinished Areas: Including unfinished areas inflates the square footage and misrepresents the property’s size.
- Ignoring Irregular Shapes: Failing to properly account for irregular room shapes will result in an inaccurate calculation.
- Measuring from the Outside: Always measure from the inside of exterior walls to exclude wall thickness.
- Not Documenting Your Work: Keeping a detailed sketch and record of your measurements is crucial for verification and future reference.
When to Hire a Professional Appraiser
While manual measurement is possible, hiring a professional appraiser ensures accuracy and provides a legally defensible square footage. This is particularly important when:
- Selling your home and needing an accurate listing price.
- Refinancing your mortgage.
- Resolving disputes about property size.
- Your home has a complex layout.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is gross living area (GLA)?
GLA refers to the total finished and habitable above-grade square footage. It typically includes living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and finished basements with standard ceiling heights that are accessible from the rest of the house via internal staircases.
Does square footage include closets?
Yes, the square footage generally includes closets that are accessible from within the finished living space.
How do I measure rooms with sloped ceilings?
Measure the floor area as usual. However, only include the portion of the room where the ceiling height is at least 5 feet. Some appraisers use a higher threshold.
What if my house has multiple stories?
Measure each story separately, following the same principles as outlined above. Add the square footage of each floor to determine the total square footage.
Is square footage always accurate on tax records?
No, square footage on tax records is often an estimate and may not be perfectly accurate. It is best to verify the square footage using another method.
How much does it cost to get a professional appraisal?
The cost of an appraisal varies depending on location, the size of the house, and the complexity of the appraisal. Typically, expect to pay between $300 and $600 for a residential appraisal.
What measuring tool is most accurate?
A laser measuring tool is generally considered the most accurate and efficient, especially for larger rooms. However, a good quality measuring tape is also acceptable.
What do I do if I find a discrepancy between the tax record and my own measurements?
If you find a significant discrepancy, consider hiring a professional appraiser to determine the accurate square footage. You can then present this information to the tax assessor.
What is the difference between gross square footage and net square footage?
Gross square footage includes the total area under the roof, including exterior walls. Net square footage refers to the usable living area, excluding exterior walls and other non-living spaces. Checking house square footage usually targets the net square footage.
Do I include finished basement square footage?
Finished basements are often included in the overall square footage, but not always at full value. Some appraisers may assign a lower value to basement square footage. Verify how it is being used in different documentation.
How does square footage affect property value?
Square footage is a significant factor in determining property value. Generally, larger homes are worth more than smaller homes, assuming similar features and condition.
Why is it important to have an accurate square footage when selling my home?
An accurate square footage is essential for pricing your home correctly and avoiding legal issues. Understating the square footage could lead to selling for less, while overstating it could result in lawsuits.