Calculating and Measuring A Home’s Square Footage

Many people ask what can be considered “Finished Square Feet” in a home. Some think that a finished attic or basement should be considered while others don’t. Some agents or home sellers still enter the square footage of a property with these things added. In some states, the definition of a bedroom or a finished basement may vary, but in Ohio, you can not count a finished basement as part of the home’s square feet unless it has a walk-out or two or more of the basement walls are above ground. If that applies, then you can add a basement’s square footage into the total for the home’s living space.

Miscalculating a home’s square footage leads to many complaints to the Ohio real estate commission each year. Some of the cases involve willful misrepresentation, but a larger number of complaints are because home owners or real estate agents didn’t measure the home’s square footage properly or at all.

What Defines Countable Living Space In A Home?
The space/room must be able to occupy humans. It must be heated by a permanent heating system. The space must also be finished. This means ceilings, walls and floors that are made from materials satisfactory for interior living. The finished space must be accessible from another finished areas. If you can’t get into the space without walking in or out of an unfinished space to access it, then it doesn’t count. Example: you have a home office in the basement, but it’s in the back and you have to walk through unfinished basement space to access it.

How To Calculate And Measure Your Home’s Square Footage:

Measuring A Home’s Square Footage

1. On the outside of the property, start at one corner and measure the length of all walls rounding to the nearest inch.
2. Record all the measurements by making a sketch (See Picture)
3. If you can’t get to the entire outside of the home to measure and you need to go inside, make sure you add six inches for an exterior wall and four inches for an interior wall.
4. Multiply length times width to calculate the square footage in a square or rectangular shaped room. If there are any unfinished measurements, make sure you deduct them from your total.
5. If you’re measuring a triangle shaped room, multiply its base length by its height and divide that figure by two.

If you’re not sure if your home’s square feet is accurate, you can check the Ohio public county records (typically under auditor’s office) to see what is listed for your home. You can also measure your home’s square footage yourself. Here’s how to calculate your home’s true square footage:

The Ohio MLS Says: Does the basement of my home count as the finished square feet? The Definition for Approximate Finished Square Footage is Livable space of the property or above ground square footage will be included in the finished square footage of the property. Attics whether finished or not, may not be included in the finished square footage. Properties with finished basements may only include the basement if two or more walls are above ground.

To find your home’s value or to begin the home selling process, contact us anytime and we can help. Making sure all your property disclosures are filled out correctly and little things are done like making sure your home isn’t misrepresented are important parts of selling a home. What good is getting more from the sale of your home if you’re ultimately going to be sued later? Make sure you know what you’re doing or consult your area RE/MAX real estate expert to guide you through it.