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Answers (5)
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26842
If a person claims a home and changes house facts, you can see the public records vs their claims by opening the property details page and then clicking on "more facts". That will result in a pop up showing the public records vs what the owner /agent has typed in (the latter called "combined facts").
There are many owners who think that their finished basement should be in the square footage, even though not standard practice.
My favorite still remains the owner who claimed their 900 square foot property had 99 bathrooms. The Zestimate soared!
You can click on "edit" and report the errors with facts.
There are many owners who think that their finished basement should be in the square footage, even though not standard practice.
My favorite still remains the owner who claimed their 900 square foot property had 99 bathrooms. The Zestimate soared!
You can click on "edit" and report the errors with facts.
- Vince Curtis, "SoCal Appraiser"
- Contributions:4699
Is the one you are talking about CLAIMED by their owner ? Click on detail page and see. If (yours or their or whoevers) is claimed and the owner adds the below grade living area to the total sq footage of the home, yes, the ZESTAIMTE will go up. They have done this by CREATING THEIR OWN ESTIMATE...But just because a ZESTIMATE goes up does not mean its real value goes up, dont be confused on that point.
http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/Create-Your-Own-Estimate/
But again below grade sq footage may not be recognized on public records and may cause issues down the line. If you give me the addressess I can look them up...
Any owner can say whatever they want to increase their Zestimate, but the real value will only be found if and when you or they sell it.
- Candis Dorsch, "Candis Dorsch"
- Contributions:212
Square footages in housing can be confusing due to a number of reasons, but the most simple explanation is that everyone (seller, REALTOR, appraiser, lender, tax assessor) addresses square footage from a different perspective. The seller obviously wants to boast about the total square footage of all levels of a home so they usually reference the largest number of square feet. The REALTOR, appraiser, lender and tax assessor are required to differentiate between the levels of a home. Square footage "above ground/grade" has a higher value than square footage "below ground/grade". Of note, there is also a value difference between a half-underground basement (ie: split entry or tri-level house), an underground basement and a "walk-out" basement (ie: a home on a slope with doors and windows to the yard). Another differentiation - some types of loans(FHA for example) are not allowed to include below grade bedrooms in their bedroom count. For those loan types that can include a lower level bedroom, keep in mind the bedroom must have a legally sized fire escape egress window.
From a marketing point of view, every venue has different categories for inputting square footage. The most accurate venues allow for entering the square footages for each level, allowing for full understanding of the value of the square footage.
Good luck with your real estate qwest!
- dtanglen
- Contributions:3
Nope, Vince, it's not a public record issue, it's a Zillow issue. I've already checked the county records.
- Vince Curtis, "SoCal Appraiser"
- Contributions:4699
Zillow gets their data from public records. If public records indicates below grade living area as part of the total square footage, ZIllow will also. Its really not a choice on Zillows part. It may vary, but in general below grade living area, in all states, in NOT considered livinable square footage.
If you own a home you can CREATE YOUR OWN ESTIMATE and include whatever you like in your estimate, or Zestimate. Look under FAQs above. Be aware, though, future buyers may hold you do that number.....
If you own a home you can CREATE YOUR OWN ESTIMATE and include whatever you like in your estimate, or Zestimate. Look under FAQs above. Be aware, though, future buyers may hold you do that number.....
Square footage on Zillow
Can't seem to find anywhere on Zillow to report this. Suggestions?
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