How do I get the square footage of our home?

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by pearlieq

A quick width x length will pretty much accomplish that, while still leaving time to enjoy the fine weather today.

Thanks everyone. I'll do the length x width thing.

As for enjoying the weather, it might be nice in Chicago, but here in NJ it was kind of rainy, windy and overcast all day.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Brokemofo

Steve,

Try this site. I use it at work a lot to get estimates of peoples values.

Mortgage ValueFinder from Mortgage.com

If it doesn't give you a value, the county should have the info on file.

Thanks. That site did have an accurate value estimate. It doesn't give sq. footage info, though.

[jIM_Ohio]

Originally Posted by Brokemofo

Basements finished or not do count in appraising a home. They just don't count in the square footage. Pools, many people don't want a pool, so that can make a home less marketable.

Bad information.

If a basement is finished AND has an exit to outside (walkout) it counts in square footage calculations.

If a basement is finished but does NOT have an exit on that level, it violates fire code and cannot be counted in square footage.

[Snave]

Originally Posted by pearlieq

A lot depends on where you are. If you're pretty far south and in a warm climate, sure. I imagine a pool could be quite attractive. They appear to be nearly mandatory in the FL area.

But every once in a while you get someone up here in Chicago who gets the curious idea that having a pool is a good idea. To each his own, but I wouldn't expect it to be a selling point--I'd think it to be neutral at best and liability to most.

Who wants to have half of their yard eaten up by an expensive and tricky to maintain power hog that you can only use for 3 months out of the year? Obviously, every once in a while someone here does, but they can't get attached to the idea that many will share their opinion.

Agreed. We live in Ohio and I don't care how nice the house was when we looked, a pool was a 100% reason to exclude the house for us. However, if I were ever to move to Floridapor Arizona, or somnething like that, the opposite would be true. I would not buy without a pool.

[Snave]

Originally Posted by jIM_Ohio

Bad information.

If a basement is finished AND has an exit to outside (walkout) it counts in square footage calculations.

If a basement is finished but does NOT have an exit on that level, it violates fire code and cannot be counted in square footage.

This is correct. I believe you can also have those large dug-out windows. Again, it comes down to code and if someone can "escape."

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by jIM_Ohio

If a basement is finished but does NOT have an exit on that level, it violates fire code

I'm thinking fire codes are local regulations, aren't they? I know lots of people with finished basements that don't have exits. They can't all be violating the law. Wouldn't contractors have to do work that met local codes in order to get the needed building permits?

[pearlieq]

It was explained to us that any basement could be finished for general use, but that you could not put a bedroom down there unless it was a walkout basement, for fire safety reasons.

Therefore, I'm thinking that it isn't counted in the "official" square footage because it does not have full, unrestricted use as living space.

[maat55]

I think the government should keep it nose out of my house. It reminds me of seatbelt & life perserver laws to protect me. I can see seatbelt laws to protect children from stupid parents, but as an adult, It's none of their business.

[jIM_Ohio]

Originally Posted by pearlieq

It was explained to us that any basement could be finished for general use, but that you could not put a bedroom down there unless it was a walkout basement, for fire safety reasons.

Therefore, I'm thinking that it isn't counted in the "official" square footage because it does not have full, unrestricted use as living space.

My reply was short, this detail is an important addition.

Bedrooms need a window which can be used for a fire escape. It was like that in Michigan, NY and Ohio (3 places I lived). Code might not be the same everywhere, but more than likely I would think lawsuits would require that in all 50 states.

You say you want the government to stay out, but that same government is paying for the firefighters which will save your a$$ if you do something stupid.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Is it in the assesor's database?

[GrimJack]

Originally Posted by maat55

I think the government should keep it nose out of my house. It reminds me of seatbelt & life perserver laws to protect me. I can see seatbelt laws to protect children from stupid parents, but as an adult, It's none of their business.

Interesting attitude, maat55. The best way to keep the government out of your house is to build it out where the government does not care. But once you start building where you are part of a community, then you have to let the government (ie. community) in for certain things like electrical, plumbing, basic fire safety. The ruling about basement bedrooms does not forbid you building one in your basement - it just says that you can not count it as a bedroom unless it meets code and (here in Seattle) it has to have a window and access to an exit to count as a bedroom. Hmmm, I think each floor/level has to have 2 exits to outside and each bedroom has to have direct access to outside.

With regards to seatbelt laws and life-preserver laws, it is true that they are trying to legislate against stupidity and that could be left to Darwin Awards. Maybe they could make exceptions for people who sign organ donor cards

[Brokemofo]

Originally Posted by jIM_Ohio

Bad information.

If a basement is finished AND has an exit to outside (walkout) it counts in square footage calculations.

If a basement is finished but does NOT have an exit on that level, it violates fire code and cannot be counted in square footage.

Really, then every realtor I know is clueless. I pay property tax on 1800 square feet even though my lower level is finished. If I list m home tomorrow any realtor will list my home as being 1800 square feet even though I have 3600 square feet of living space. Alse a finished lower level without an exit on that level does not violate fire code in my state.

[momof1in150]

Originally Posted by Brokemofo

Really, then every Realtor I know is clueless. I pay property tax on 1800 square feet even though my lower level is finished. If I list m home tomorrow any Realtor will list my home as being 1800 square feet even though I have 3600 square feet of living space. Also a finished lower level without an exit on that level does not violate fire code in my state.

Every town/city has their own way of assessing homes. The amount that your home is accessed for is what you pay taxes on, not the appraised amount. I am a RE agent and finished basements do count as part of the square footage. We usually break it down as a separate number but include it in the total square footage. Depending on where you live they might do it differently.

Bedrooms have to have a way to exit the home (window or door). They also have to be a minimum of 7 x 10 (HUD sets this building code and most states abide by it). They do not have to have a closet to be considered a bedroom.

[pearlieq]

Originally Posted by jIM_Ohio

You say you want the government to stay out, but that same government is paying for the firefighters which will save your a$$ if you do something stupid.

And patrol officers and EMTs to come deal with the scene when you put yourself through a windshield, coast guard members to come fish you out of the water, and DOT workers to come hose down the street after you decide that you don't need a helmet.

Stupidity costs everyone money. Who in their right mind wouldn't take an obvious and simple safety precaution just to be stubborn? "You can't make me--you're not the boss of me!" Sounds like a lot of toddlers I know.

[Brokemofo]

Originally Posted by momof1in150

Every town/city has their own way of assessing homes. The amount that your home is accessed for is what you pay taxes on, not the appraised amount. I am a RE agent and finished basements do count as part of the square footage. We usually break it down as a separate number but include it in the total square footage. Depending on where you live they might do it differently.

Bedrooms have to have a way to exit the home (window or door). They also have to be a minimum of 7 x 10 (HUD sets this building code and most states abide by it). They do not have to have a closet to be considered a bedroom.

If you are a Realtor then you know that when you get a new listing, you would get the square footage from the courthouse to put on the listing. Also, that square footage is what they base the property taxes on. Also, Neither time would you or the assessor count the square footage below grade. Believe me, I'm glad it's done this way or my property taxes would go up.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Brokemofo, where we live it's based on finished and it needs a closet to be a bedroom. And there are rules about counting finished basements. Our neighbors have wayyy more space than their assessed 2200 sq ft because of a finished basement. Why it doesn't count i have no idea.

[Brokemofo]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

Brokemofo, where we live it's based on finished and it needs a closet to be a bedroom. And there are rules about counting finished basements. Our neighbors have wayyy more space than their assessed 2200 sq ft because of a finished basement. Why it doesn't count i have no idea.

Yeah, I'm not sure why it doesn't count either. Maybe there is an appraiser on this forum who will chime in. In my state, appraisers will not count "below grade" square footage even if it is completed in the same manner as the ground floor.

[momof1in150]

Originally Posted by Brokemofo

Yeah, I'm not sure why it doesn't count either. Maybe there is an appraiser on this forum who will chime in. In my state, appraisers will not count "below grade" square footage even if it is completed in the same manner as the ground floor.

When was it last assessed. You are getting accessed value and appraised value confused. Your taxes are based on the assessed value of your home, not the appraised value. If it was finished after it was last assessed then they may not have the current assessment of your home. My house was never assessed for the 4th bedroom in the lower level until this year and yes, my assessment went up.

[Brokemofo]

Originally Posted by momof1in150

When was it last assessed. You are getting accessed value and appraised value confused. Your taxes are based on the assessed value of your home, not the appraised value. If it was finished after it was last assessed then they may not have the current assessment of your home. My house was never assessed for the 4th bedroom in the lower level until this year and yes, my assessment went up.

We are not on the same page. I fully understand what assessed value and appraised value are. I know the property taxes I pay are on the "assessed" value. My basement was finished by the builder at time of construction using the same materials as upstairs. My only point is that my finaished basement is NOT counted as square footage by a licensed appraiser.

[aida2003]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

Thanks everyone. I'll do the length x width thing.

I like this kind of measurement, but I learned that it's inaccurate/incorrect. A few weeks ago a read an article in our local newspaper that Charlotte realtors will stop announcing square footage of a house on our MLS. Or it's advertised, it'll have a 'correct' size.
I cannot recall the correct formula, but the main thing is to measure the house from OUTSIDE by measuring each wall and then deduct something for the thickness of those walls...
It was confusing a bit and sure enough many Charlottean readers don't like this new 'science'.