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Can anyone tell me if unfinished area, mostly all underground (one small window w/ a window well at the top of one wall) is considered in the overall square footage of a home?
The home is a split level in Virginia and there is an unfinished 4th level down some steps.
Is there some place on line I can check on the rules regarding this?
Can anyone tell me if unfinished area, mostly all underground (one small window w/ a window well at the top of one wall) is considered in the overall square footage of a home?
The home is a split level in Virginia and there is an unfinished 4th level down some steps.
Is there some place on line I can check on the rules regarding this?
Thanks,
It would probably be included in the total sq ft not the living sq ft .
Each area can be different though.
When calculating the square footage of a home (to get the price/square foot) is this space counted or not? Do they calculate total square footage or living space square footage?
Location: Mokelumne Hill, CA & El Pescadero, BCS MX.
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There are 4 standards for measuring square footage in use in the united states and no consensus on which one should be used. Most of us rely on the local building agency for our number, but your mileage may vary.
When calculating the square footage of a home (to get the price/square foot) is this space counted or not? Do they calculate total square footage or living space square footage?
This goes by local custom.
Just take a few local listings (they usually have price per sq ft) and multiply it by the living sq ft and the total sq ft and see which one matches up.
In Oregon, it has to be finished in order to count as square footage. So in this scenario, it would not count as square footage since you can't live in it.
Many appraisers utilize ANSI Standards when measuring a house and ANSI does not include anything below ground level UNLESS it is a standard in that area. In other words, if your area has many houses like yours, the SF can be included, either at the full price per sf or at a reduced per sf amount.
Many appraisers also offer a service of measuring houses. Perhaps you could hire one and have it measured professionally so you know exactly what you have.
Anything below grade, is not included in sq.ft.living area. Hopefully, the appraiser can locate closed sales of similar design. I measure every house I appraise, and don't rely on county data. If I'm signing my name to the report, I rely on my own information.
In MN it must be finished to be included. However, if you are measuring an unfinished basement, then the only thing that unfinished space has to do with anything is foundation size.
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