How Big Is A House?
REM #F663
By Ilyce R. Glink
Summary: A reader has put an offer on a house but now feels that the seller misrepresented the number of square feet listed for the home. Ilyce explains how there are many ways to calculate square footage and suggests that it may be better to think about how the house fits their needs.
Q: My husband and I put an offer on a home and it got accepted. We noticed
that the square footage of the home as advertised by the seller is different
from the square footage that the county registers for the home.
We only learned this after placing the offer.
We plan to measure the house and if there is a discrepancy of more than 100 square feet we will consult with a professional and measure the home again.
Our buying agent is kind of indifferent about negotiating a reduced price with the seller if there is a discrepancy in the square footage. What are our options in this case other than revoking our offer and starting the home hunting again?
A: There are many different ways of counting square footage. Some builders count it from the outside walls and others count it from the size of the rooms. Also, some people include attics and basements, whether finished or unfinished, and others don’t.
While the seller may have somewhat inflated the square footage as compared
with the county, it's quite possible that the county is incorrect. Also, having
the county think you have a less square footage may result in a lower property
tax bill for your home. Finally, the county may count square footage in a very
different way than you would.
But the bottom line is that you didn't or shouldn’t make an offer for
this home based on the square footage, but how well the home worked for you.
I urge you to think about this carefully. Does the house now feel smaller to
you because the county assessor thinks it's a bit smaller?
Instead of focusing on square footage, think about how well the house suits
your needs and wants. If it still meets your needs -- and some of the things
you hoped to get -- you will probably enjoy living there.
NOTE: This column is distributed by Real Estate Matters Syndicate, PO Box 366, Glencoe, Illinois, 60022. This column may not be resold, reprinted, resyndicated or redistributed without written permission from the publisher.
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