What Is Considered Living Square Footage?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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When house plan sellers refer to Total Living square feet, they are referring to the “living area” of the home. This can be thought of as

the area that will be heated or cooled

. … The total foot print the home will take up. This area includes garages, porches, patios, and any area under the main roof.

What is considered a living space?

The key word is “living.” When calculating GLA, each space must be considered a living area. This definition includes

bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms

, per guidelines laid out by the American National Standard Institute (ANSI).

What is included in livable square footage?

When an appraiser calculates the square footage of a home, it will only measure interior spaces that are heated and cooled. This includes

bedrooms

(and closets), bathrooms, hallways, kitchen, and living areas, as well as enclosed patios, and finished attics.

What counts as square footage in a home?


Multiply the length by the width and write the total square footage of each room in the corresponding space on the home

sketch. Example: If a bedroom is 12 feet by 20 feet, the total square footage is 240 square feet (12 x 20 = 240). Add the square footage of each room to determine your home’s total square footage.

Is laundry room considered living space?

An appraiser will consider the value of non-GLA space to the home, but will not count it as part of GLA. This can get confusing to a seller. Generally, it is agreed that bedrooms, living rooms, dens, kitchens, and dining rooms are counted as rooms. …

Laundry rooms are not considered rooms.

Why are basements not included in square footage?

Simply put, a basement is excluded from square footage when it’s:

Not finished

.

Not heated

.

Completely or often even partially underground

.

Are guest houses included in square footage?

Finding the square footage of a property can sometimes be tricky. … This is because

the livable square footage of a detached guest house isn’t included in the

price per square foot calculations. If the additional structure is attached to any part of the main house, it can be included in the square footage.

Are walkout basements counted in square footage?

Walkouts and exposed basements should be

included as FINISHED BELOW GRADE SQUARE FOOTAGE

. classifying below grade rooms as bedrooms.

What if house has wrong square footage?

Providing a wrong or conflicting square footage might lead to

a real estate lawsuit

. … If you see the MLS is inaccurate, you should also notify the local MLS office and advise your clients to get a survey and appraisal for their property due to the discrepancies. Make sure to document everything.

How is living space in a house determined?

Measure the exterior length and the width of each box. Multiply each length and width to get the square footage of each box. Add all square footage totals.

Subtract the interior square footage of any unheated space

to get the living area for a single store home.

What is the average square footage of a 3 bedroom house?

The median size of a new home built in 2016 was

2,422 sq. ft.

Is a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath house of around 2,000 sq. ft.

How does Zillow calculate square footage?


Multiply the rectangle’s length by its width to get the area in square feet

.

Do walls count in square footage?

The standard practice calls

for measuring square footage from your exterior walls

, as opposed to measuring the actual interior dimensions of each room. This includes each wall as part of your square footage, although it obviously isn’t usable space.

Is a covered porch considered living space?

What qualifies the enclosed porch to be part of the main living area of the house? Answer: …

A finished enclosed porch can be counted or included in the main living area of the house

. An unfinished enclosed porch is not considered in the main living area of dwelling.

How many outlets are required in a laundry room?

Section 210.52(F) requires

at least one receptacle outlet

to be installed for the laundry in a dwelling unit. Two exceptions appear immediately after this general rule.

Do appraisers measure every room?

Lenders require an appraiser to determine the market value of your home before they’ll approve your request for a refinance. … When determining this market value, an appraiser

will study your home’s interior and exterior

. This includes touring all the rooms of your home, including your bedrooms.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.