How do you figure square footage of your house.?

Question

How do you figure square footage of your house for real estate puposes. Do you measure hallways, foyers, closets and baths. Do you take the length and width in feet and mutiply together than add it all up. What is the best way.

Answer 1

DIY pro offers a valid solution; as do others. I'll just add my two cents.

Certainly if the house isn't square or rectangular; you should measure it's exterior in Boxes/sections; as suggested.

Real estate listings however will often state something like 2000 sq. ft. which might include EVERYTHING under the roof; and hopefully they add,,, 600 sq. ft. of that is garage; etc..

In smaller font; within the ad; should be included such things as more direct details; regarding full, finished basement; second floor sq. footage; finished attic; etc. all described in the specific sq. footage. IE: A house that might measure 2000 sq. ft.; with two floors; should stipulate 1st. floor 1100; and explain the second level; etc.

In a way; it's deceiving to a buyer; but it's legal, and common. LIVING AREA is sometimes "loosely" defined.

Steven Wolf

Answer 2

It's basically length X width. That being said, houses are rarely square or rectangular so you will need to measure in modules and add them together.

The easiest way is to go outside to measure. It is a pretty simple calculation and nobody expects you to get it to the precise inch. Just remember, cut it up into blocks, measure length X width, and add it all together.

Remember your geometry. For example, if you have an equal sided triangle it's (L X W)/2. If the sides are not equal, it's (A squared X B squared = C squared).

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

The square footage of a house is the sum of all air conditioned space. Take each room and figure its area, and then add them up. Your garage doesn't count, because it's not air conditioned. If you have brick on your exterior you typically have 5 1/2" brick, 2X4 (3.5") or 2X6 (5.5") walls, and sheet-rock. Your exterior walls are at least 9.5" thick. The only thing that can count that as living space you don't want in your home. The amount of space interior walls take up also doesn't count.

Answer 4

Well, there are different criteria for different reasons. I'm not as familiar with the appraisal process as construction, but their criteria is livable space, so they exclude attached garages. For construction purposes, sometimes they go by framed space, sometimes, they go by footprint on the lot. Hopefully, you have a Realtor. They should be able to help and tell you what is ethical. You don't want to lie, but you don't want to cheat yourself either in your listing. Because the planning and departments want the information as the footprint minus an attached garage, I usually figure it like this:

The footprint that is ground level including garage. Then the livable area, which is ground floor footprint minus garage plus second floor and finished basement if applicable. If there are ancillary non livable spaces like the garage or unfinished basement break them out separately.

So your listing may look like 2200 sqft livable space, 1200 first floor, 1000 second floor. But you also want people to know you have say a 600 sqft attached garage 1200 unfinished basement.

But the best thing to due is ask your Realtor what is ethical.

Answer 5

The first answer is the best way (l x w) by breaking the house into little pieces. However, the garage and basement do not count.

Answer 6

Area means all the area. Like in grade school.

Answer 7

Measure the exterior of your house.