Square footage is one of the most common terms you’ll hear when it comes to discussing property features, and for good reason—it’s what determines how much living space you’ll have in your residence!
Typically, square footage is calculated by measuring the length and width of each room in the house, writing down the results, and multiplying the two numbers. So a bedroom that measures 10 feet by 12 feet would be 120 square feet. That being said, square footage can be a bit trickier to measure in open concept spaces, which is why many appraisers and real estate agents use a laser measuring device. This electronic tool is held against the wall on one side of the room and shines a light on the opposite wall to give the measurement.
For a space within a home to be considered part of the square footage, it must be ‘finished’ and meet all requirements set forth by the state. The spaces that are most commonly included are:
- Living room
- Dining room
- Kitchen
- Bedrooms
- Bathrooms
- Family room
- Finished basement
Spaces that do not typically factor into the official square footage of a home, regardless of how you plan to use the space, include:
- Garages
- Storage rooms
- Attic (unless finished)
- Pool house
- Guest house
You can obviously still measure these spaces for your own knowledge and use, but just know those measurements won’t count towards the recognized square footage for the property assessment or real estate listing.
Square footage is important not only because it tells you how much livable area a house has, but also because it effects the property value and pricing. Make sure your home’s square footage is accurate, or else it could spell trouble down the road when you try to sell.
At Title Junction, we care about helping you stay informed throughout your real estate transaction. The experts at our title company have extensive knowledge about real estate not only in Cape Coral and Fort Myers, but all of Florida as well.
Have questions? Give us a call at 239.415.6574.
In case you missed it, check out our last Title Junction post: 4 Reasons Sellers Should Hire A Real Estate Agent