The Growing House

[SLP-NYCT]

I am sure you all check the history of a house before showing it, right? i hope so, because I have found some interesting stuff.

A recent one is a house that was 3000 sq. ft. is now 4500 sq. ft. Sure they could have put on an addition, but they didn't! I know the house well and it is exactly the same as it has always been since built. The agent simply added in the unfinished, below grade basement to bump up the size to justify the price.

In NY, we are not permitted to include unfinished space or any space w/o a C/O in the Advertised Sq. Ft. We can list an additional unfinished 1500 sq ft in the description if there is no field for unfinished sq. ft.

Some others have included homes that grow a few hundred sq ft and shrink a few hundred sq ft with each sale.

I wonder if the agent knows how much this will cost him or his broker in legal fees if they actually sold it as 4500 sq ft.

[bogart]

Always bring a tape measure when you look a house.

[RESteve]

Always bring a tape measure when you look a house.

I think at some point you have to rely on the disclosure given to you by the seller. In Texas, the disclosure is required to be filled out by the seller and given to all prospective buyers.

Situations like this would cause a lawsuit if a sale commenced on the 4500 sqft expectation. Scary stuff!

[bogart]

I think at some point you have to rely on the disclosure given to you by the seller. In Texas, the disclosure is required to be filled out by the seller and given to all prospective buyers.

Situations like this would cause a lawsuit if a sale commenced on the 4500 sqft expectation. Scary stuff!

I would go with the tape measure if the sale was based on the sq ft and it didn't seem right. Why wait until the sale is closed to measure the place?

[RESteve]

I would go with the tape measure if the sale was based on the sq ft and it didn't seem right. Why wait until the sale is closed to measure the place?

Then that makes sense; I would agree with you on that. I assumed you meant walk out the square footage on every home you toured.

[satxproperty]

I only list what is documented... either by the drawings, an appraisal, tax records, etc. (And I list the source.)

Our tax records are linked into our mls for most of our counties, so I just click the "populate with tax info" button.

[GregPDX]

In Oregon we do list the basement and unfinished space in the total square feet. Really makes it hard to find comps when some houses have finished basements while others don't.

[bogart]

I think at some point you have to rely on the disclosure given to you by the seller. In Texas, the disclosure is required to be filled out by the seller and given to all prospective buyers.

Situations like this would cause a lawsuit if a sale commenced on the 4500 sqft expectation. Scary stuff!

I found a property on a MLS yesterday that stated a small garage/wharehouse on a 2500ft lot. When I looked at the property yesterday, there was a sign in front claiming a 3000ft lot and saying perfect for 2 family house. It makes my wonder if there could be a zoning issue due to the lot size.

[FairwayandIsle]

Stuff like this really make you wonder what those listing agents are thinking. I wonder if the repercussions even enter into their mind or if they think they can get away with it.

[Discover Davis Homes]

Growing house has a whole 'nother meaning in Northern California. Important to check for that kind of stuff as well - have seen quite a bit of grow house stuff left behind in a number of foreclosures in the past year.

Back to the topic - if you (agent) don't feel comfortable with your own measurements another option is to hire an appraiser to sketch the improvements. There are some that have a decent side business in just doing the measurements. Appraisers are also well aware of what is typically considered living space -there are many occasions where there is confusion (basements, room conversions).

I've also "helped" clients do their own measurements - but had them make the measurements - hopefully would take the liability off me - would say I held the dummy end of the tape, but I have a nifty laser measuring device that makes measuring houses very easy. Appraisers have cool toys.

Carolyn x-appraiser