In almost every sale listing for a home, there is some indication of the square footage of the home. How is the square footage of a home determined?

It may be that the local government agency in charge of regulating the real estate industry has set forth directives as to the determination of square footage; however, many localities lack such standards. Thus, not all real estate agents measure square footage in the same way.

Generally speaking, the square footage that is listed in a sale listing should cover the living area only. In other words, the square footage includes only that space that is intended for and equipped for human occupancy. The square footage for garages or other unfinished areas should be set forth separately in the listing.

In order to obtain the most accurate measurements, it is best to use only the exterior walls of the home for guidance. As one home is quite different from another in terms of construction, several unique features require special consideration. A few areas where the method of determining square footage is particularly difficult to determine are as follows:

• stairways;
  
• open spaces, including foyers;
  
• closets;
  
• hallways;
  
• utility rooms;
  
• bay windows; and
  
• homes with sloped ceilings, such as A-frame homes.

A careful buyer should make inquiry as to how the square footage was determined before accepting it as accurate. If the square footage was calculated inaccurately, it may be a point of negotiation between buyer and seller.

Copyright 2010 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc.