Answers (11)
Best Answer
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:39533
Home size is the continguous finished permitted area that is heated/air conditioned. In many areas, the basement is called out separately. The garage is not part of square footage, nor patios / screened in porches and the like. Here's a link to the Zillow description.
- Suzie Crudo, "Wholenewattitude"
- Contributions:251
The simple answer is if the garage is ONLY a garage, no other use...NO it is not out into the living space, " Home size" can vary. YES I know what the definition says, only in reality appraisers and agents see so many modified projects by sellers you have to tweak the definition. If appraisers and agents had to stick to permitted space, most of the homes would not sell! To many sellers midify their homes without permits and proper steps. We face that almost daily. Screened porch conversions, garage conversions and even full blown suite extensions. Yes ,you can " go by the book" only as they say appraising is an art not a sceince . In some cases the rooms had only a room unit no heat source., and the appraisers and the county passed it as living space . I have had porch conversions that had heat and air ,and because they had a step down and you could visibly see the back portion of the house from the room...they did not pass the space. It ALL depends, how the floor plan flows, ceiling heights heat or air ,or mostly air ,closets and then the location of those rooms in relaton to other rooms in the home. I had one appraiser that refused to give a bedroom, a bedroom status because It was to close to the front door and the foyer! The home was built that way and was always a 4 bedroom home. It is not only the loss of adjustment against other 4 bedrooms ( we lose about 4,000 for a 3 vs 4 bedroom) it is that it is MORE desirable to get the most value for the money spent and buyers head right to the 4 bedrooms. Not to mention the price range is usually higher overall. I have seen a seller turn a carport into a garage..all of these modifications should be done legally and constructed by a liscensed contractor, it can bite you later on. Pay now or pay later. Best wishes Suzie
- Flavio Tejada, "$Discount Broker$"
- Contributions:36
The garage square footage is not included in the living area square footage.
Good luck!
Good luck!
- Arpad Racz, "aracz"
- Contributions:260
Hi,
It depends on if it is stated as Living Area or Home Size. Usually the garage is not part of the living area, but there are some exceptions where the garage has been converted, and there are a lot of details that may go along with that as well. Was there a converted garage, and if yes, was it done with permits?
Thank you,
Arpad
It depends on if it is stated as Living Area or Home Size. Usually the garage is not part of the living area, but there are some exceptions where the garage has been converted, and there are a lot of details that may go along with that as well. Was there a converted garage, and if yes, was it done with permits?
Thank you,
Arpad
- Julenn Keeling, "TheRightRealtor"
- Contributions:170
Hello Hockey 6688,
By the guidelines that I follow in Virginia, the garage has to be heated to be counted towards the square footage of the home.
I hope this helps,
Julenn Keeling, SFR
- Brenna Piper, "Brenna Piper"
- Contributions:6
In TN, living space square footage must be heated. But be aware that some call it "under roof" which may include 1. garage space that heated; or 2. heated garage space that is clearly not living space. Ask specifically about what is included.
- Frieda Triebel, "Frieda Triebel"
- Contributions:257
The garage is not part of the living area and would therefore not be in the overall square feet of the home.
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:25971
Notice that typically livable floor space includes the space occupied by both the interior and exterior walls.
There also is a minimum ceiling height not mentioned, and if the ceilings are sloped, there is averaging that applies.
Then there are special rules for stairwells, where the space is counted twice, but double-high ceiling living-rooms are only counted once.
And air conditioning is not required to make it "livable", but heating is, but the heat doesn't have to be directly into that room, but can be to an adjoining space.
And as described in that Zillow blog, the building codes are not the same throughout all of the U.S., thus there are differences in areas that apply different building codes.
In general, the public records data as shown on the Zillow "more facts" for the home details page will get you in the right ballpark, but you still won't know what the actual useable livable square footage is if you don't measure it yourself.
And remember, each party that measures is likely to round off in different increments. Most Architects will want to known within 1/4". Some people want to know within a 1/16". Most appraisal measurements are only to the 1/2 foot. Don't forget that if you are measuring a room, you want the interior dimensions from the walls, not from the baseboards. The amount of carpeting needed is almost always less than the actual square footage of the room.
And then there are always the illegal garage conversions, and sometimes the permitted garage conversions, and they can throw of the numbers substantially.
There also is a minimum ceiling height not mentioned, and if the ceilings are sloped, there is averaging that applies.
Then there are special rules for stairwells, where the space is counted twice, but double-high ceiling living-rooms are only counted once.
And air conditioning is not required to make it "livable", but heating is, but the heat doesn't have to be directly into that room, but can be to an adjoining space.
And as described in that Zillow blog, the building codes are not the same throughout all of the U.S., thus there are differences in areas that apply different building codes.
In general, the public records data as shown on the Zillow "more facts" for the home details page will get you in the right ballpark, but you still won't know what the actual useable livable square footage is if you don't measure it yourself.
And remember, each party that measures is likely to round off in different increments. Most Architects will want to known within 1/4". Some people want to know within a 1/16". Most appraisal measurements are only to the 1/2 foot. Don't forget that if you are measuring a room, you want the interior dimensions from the walls, not from the baseboards. The amount of carpeting needed is almost always less than the actual square footage of the room.
And then there are always the illegal garage conversions, and sometimes the permitted garage conversions, and they can throw of the numbers substantially.
- David Tapper, "DavidTapper"
- Contributions:162
Hi Wetdawgs,
It only the space where you live, not the garage. It's also the way you identify price per sq ft and the way the appraisers look at it as well.
Best.
Tap
It only the space where you live, not the garage. It's also the way you identify price per sq ft and the way the appraisers look at it as well.
Best.
Tap
- Pasadenan
- Contributions:25971
The numbers shown on Zillow should be from the public records, and that would NOT include the attached garage, but should only be livable area as defined by the applicable building code.
But there are some Realtors and owners that like to distort the information.
You want to press the "more facts" button on the home details page to compare what the public records indicate with the modified information provided by an owner or agent.
Even then, you will want to measure it yourself.
But there are some Realtors and owners that like to distort the information.
You want to press the "more facts" button on the home details page to compare what the public records indicate with the modified information provided by an owner or agent.
Even then, you will want to measure it yourself.
- Paxton Clark, "Paxton Clark"
- Contributions:1
Living area only the best way to get this is through the tax records or WWW.QPUBLIC.NET
Home Size - Does the number include the attached garage or should it state only the livable area?
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