A house that sounds roomy and spacious online may have 800 square feet in a four-foot-tall dirt-floor basement. So what’s up with that?

In Washington DC, clients are often confused at the fair footage discrepancy between what’s listed and what they see on tour, and colleagues in other markets hear similar things.

Why the conflicting information? Well, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) guidelines on how to calculate a home’s square footage are considered the standard, but there are no official laws that govern this process. 

In addition, some Multiple Listing Services (MLS) report all finished and unfinished square footage of a house as a single number, adding to the confusion.

Finally, some listing agents post their best guess on a home’s square footage since the rules aren’t standard. As a result, buyers and their agents often have to investigate.

If you love a home, does it matter if the 2,000 square foot charmer turns out to be officially 1,600 sq ft in length? Since square footage determines a home’s market value, it can matter a lot.

When it comes time for you to sell, 400 fewer feet in measurement can impact your price, particularly in a buyer’s market. That is why we created this guide on calculating the square footage of a house.

 

Learn how at a free home selling class: What to do as a buyer.

First off, start by referring to your city’s building department records. Many city and county records are now available online, making getting this info much easier than it used to be.

Some updates – like unpermitted remodeling – may not be reflected in the records, but it will still provide a good baseline.

Then, familiarize yourself with basic ANSI guidelines for calculating square footage for single-family homes.

 

Practices can vary slightly from market to market, but these rules apply to most areas in the country:

• Below-grade spaces (basements, dens, etc.) do not usually count toward a home’s square footage and even as a finished basement toward a home’s Gross Living Area (GLA). Still, it can be noted separately in the listing’s total area.
• The ANSI method specifies measuring from the house’s exterior, but the wall width is not usually subtracted to account for actual living space.
• Stairways and closet areas are included in the square footage length.
• Finished attic square footage is included if an area has at least seven minimum feet of clearance.
• Covered can only be include enclosed porches if they are heated using the same system as the rest of the house.
• Garages, pool houses, guest houses, or any rooms that require you to leave the finished area of the main house to gain access are not counted.

 

Check it yourself.

As a buyer, it can be helpful to know how to calculate the square footage of a house yourself; multiply the length and width of all fitting rooms in the home.

All you’ll need to get started is a 100 sq ft tape measure, some graph paper, and a pencil. 

 

How to calculate the square footage of your house:

• Assign a unit of measure
• Assign a unit of measure to each square on the paper (afoot, for example) and measure to the nearest tenth of afoot.
• the first step to calculating square feet
• Pick a wall
• Pick a wall and begin making your way around the interior perimeter of the house in one direction, drawing lines accordingly on the graph paper. Though ANSI guidelines specify measuring the exterior walls, counting from the inside will give you a better idea of the actual livable area. 
• Look at your floor plan.
• Then, go back over your floor plan, multiply the rectangular areas, and add them to get your final number. If your calculation includes a place that is not permissible, don’t forget to subtract it.

 

Note 

Be aware that condominiums have fewer established rules and no ANSI guidelines.

To start, you can visit your city’s building department and ask them to pull the home’s plans and permits for the property; the builders must include square footage for each unit.

If that info is hard for you to get, you may want to hire an appraiser. 

 

If you’re a seller, it’s best to pay an appraiser to provide a square footage assessment so your listing is accurate. Finally, consult an agent.

Agents usually see dozens of homes a week and have a pretty good spatial sense; they can often give you a ballpark estimate of any home in question.

Finally, remember that while square footage is essential to your home value, don’t focus on it at the expense of style or your emotional response to it.

Do you like the design and floor plan? How about the location? Are there rooms you love? Of course, numbers are important, but they are no substitute for the intangibles that make a house feel like a home.

It’s your turn to be a homeowner in New Jersey

If you are interested in acquiring your new home, do not hesitate to contact our EXP Realty consultants. We guarantee quality attention and the best homes in the area, with personalized marketing strategies to achieve the most significant benefit for you.

You will not regret working with us because we seek your best interests. Our clients certify them.