Floorplan area

loanranger_4

I really like the floorplans that most savvy estate agents publish with their properties. What I would like to know is :

1. the difference between internal and external gross area?
2. what does the 'abt' in the phrase 'Ground Floor abt 500 SqFt (External)'

Thanks

YorkshireBoy

loanranger wrote:

I really like the floorplans that most savvy estate agents publish with their properties. What I would like to know is :

1. the difference between internal and external gross area?
2. what does the 'abt' in the phrase 'Ground Floor abt 500 SqFt (External)'

Thanks

How about...

1. Internal area is the usable living space within the property. External area is the "plot" size, which would include gardens/garage as well as the house itself.

2. "abt" is ABOUT, as in approximately.

HTH
YB

loanranger_4

YorkshireBoy

Many thanks for your input.

I agree with the internal area definition, however I believe the external gross area of a house is the area of the four walls.

Cheers

YorkshireBoy

loanranger wrote:

YorkshireBoy

Many thanks for your input.

I agree with the internal area definition, however I believe the external gross area of a house is the area of the four walls.

Cheers

Do you have examples of the 2 cross-sectional areas? If they're virtually the same, you're correct; if there's a large difference then its probably as I suggested.

However...

I can't see much point in measuring both inside and outside walls - unless you need to calculate out how much stone there is!

For example, if the internal area of a house measures 18' x 24' the area would be given as 432 sq ft, and (assuming 12" walls) external area would be 20' x 26' which would give 520 sq ft.

If the overall plot size was 50' x 75' then this "external area" would be 3,750 sq ft.

Does this make sense?

HTH
YB

BrixMorta

It does indeed relate to inside useable space and external wall area. There can be a fairly significant diffeance especially in a large property when you imagine the walls inc' cavity could easily be 12" thick over 2 floors.
External is used from an insurance re build cost and indeed building cost perspective where as internal would concern the purchaser.

loanranger_4

Many Thanks BrixMorta.

The examples that I came across where for the same property being marketed by two different estate agents, both included floorplans with one quoting external and the other internal, the difference was about 100 sqft between the two.

As you mention another useful measure for those of us obsessed by numbers would be the total plot size.

YorkshireBoy

loanranger wrote:

Many Thanks BrixMorta.

The examples that I came across where for the same property being marketed by two different estate agents, both included floorplans with one quoting external and the other internal, the difference was about 100 sqft between the two.

As you mention another useful measure for those of us obsessed by numbers would be the total plot size.

A little bit naughty, wouldn't you say - an extra 100 sq ft would look good on the sales brochure.

A little bit like Currys/Dixons/Burton/et al advertising "50% OFF" on a sign that you can see from 3 miles away. As you enter the store you can just about make out (with reading glasses) the phrases "up to" and "selected lines".

Draw you in and then disappoint you.

Glad we've reached a conclusion on internal/external though.

YB

loanranger_4

Me to. At least I can now compare apples with apples and oranges with oranges!

Revelation

Royal institute of chartered surveyors (RICS) provides guidelines about what should be included/ excluded from Gross internal area (GIA) figures.
As said above the GIA should NOT include loft space, garages, etc. but does include internal walls.

The difference between internal and external can sometimes be huge... some houses I've measured have exterior walls that are over 2 feet thick!