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There
are some standard questions that nearly every buyer asks when looking at a home
they might want to purchase. Questions about the number of bedrooms, bathrooms,
garage, size of yard and of course kitchen style are all common things buyers
are concerned with.
But square footage, rather the actual living space within a home, is also a concern for people. If you think about it, some homes are laid out so well with excellent floor plans that maximize the use of space – that square footage is hardly even a factor. In the same way, other homes might have so much space but the floor plan shortchanges the actual usage of that area.
Square Footage and Home Value
So how do you know whether you should let how big or small a house is impact your decision? One aspect to consider is how square footage can affect the value of your home. Particularly from the standpoint of an appraisal, additional living space generally adds to the value.
Depending on which MLS you are searching on, you may even see “tax square footage” which is a measurement of sorts based on the tax records for a property. Now the misleading thing about these measurements is that they are often inaccurate in terms of actual living space. This is because they usually include spaces such as the garage, exterior areas like decks and porches and other structures on the property.
One way to confirm the actual living space is to obtain your own measurements. Keep in mind you would measure a home yourself if you really want to confirm the exact square footage rather than rely on anyone else’s measurements. Another thing to keep in mind is that there are multiple ways to calculate square footage; there is the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) plus also how you might expect a home to be measured by an appraiser. Here is a great article that shows the ANSI method of calculation.
If you would like a copy of our special report that shares exactly how an appraiser measures your home, call or email us and we will be glad to get a copy of it over to you!
As always, we look forward to serving your every real estate need and providing the highest quality service that our clients have come to know and love! Thanks for visiting our blog!
But square footage, rather the actual living space within a home, is also a concern for people. If you think about it, some homes are laid out so well with excellent floor plans that maximize the use of space – that square footage is hardly even a factor. In the same way, other homes might have so much space but the floor plan shortchanges the actual usage of that area.
Square Footage and Home Value
So how do you know whether you should let how big or small a house is impact your decision? One aspect to consider is how square footage can affect the value of your home. Particularly from the standpoint of an appraisal, additional living space generally adds to the value.
Depending on which MLS you are searching on, you may even see “tax square footage” which is a measurement of sorts based on the tax records for a property. Now the misleading thing about these measurements is that they are often inaccurate in terms of actual living space. This is because they usually include spaces such as the garage, exterior areas like decks and porches and other structures on the property.
One way to confirm the actual living space is to obtain your own measurements. Keep in mind you would measure a home yourself if you really want to confirm the exact square footage rather than rely on anyone else’s measurements. Another thing to keep in mind is that there are multiple ways to calculate square footage; there is the ANSI (American National Standards Institute) plus also how you might expect a home to be measured by an appraiser. Here is a great article that shows the ANSI method of calculation.
If you would like a copy of our special report that shares exactly how an appraiser measures your home, call or email us and we will be glad to get a copy of it over to you!
As always, we look forward to serving your every real estate need and providing the highest quality service that our clients have come to know and love! Thanks for visiting our blog!
