This Week's Q & A

Q: When the fact sheet on a home for sale indicates that it has 3,000 square feet, what, exactly does that mean? Can I assume that this refers to total “livable” space only, or does it include hallways, closets, attic space, etc.?

A: The short answer to your question is, you shouldn’t assume anything. Aside from condominiums (where square footage is specified in the condo documents) and new homes (where you can go by the builder’s blueprints), there is no consistency in the way in which square footage is determined. Many brokers don’t even try to provide that information, because the potential for error or misunderstanding is so great. Where the square footage is specified, you will find there are many different ways in which it may have been calculated.

Some measurements include livable space only, excluding hallways, closets and the like; others represent a rough approximation based on the foundation size. Some will include basements and attics; others will include that space only if it is “finished,” raising obvious questions about just how “finished” the space must be to qualify as “livable.” The oddly shaped rooms that add character and charm to so many older homes in this area also make it more difficult to calculate the square footage. The variations are endless, making direct comparisons between different properties risky, at best. Some, though not all, municipalities include square footage information on their property tax records, so that’s a good place to start if you’re looking for accurate measurements. Beyond that, if you are using the square footage information as anything other than a close approximation of the property’s size (for example, if you are trying to compare the per-square-foot cost of different properties) you should ask the broker or the seller precisely how the measurement was determined; check their figures by taking your own measurements; and make sure any significant differences are explained to your satisfaction before you buy.