Accuracy of floor space?

Doozergirl

pinkteapot said:

Also, square footage isn't the be-all and end-all (especially if the houses you're viewing are of a similar-ish size). Room layouts (how the layout has been designed) makes a MASSIVE difference to how usable spaces actually are. Look at how much of a room's wall space is taken up by doors, windows and radiators as it limits you on furniture layout. Look at built-in storage cupboards (often more of them in older houses than newer) - they mean you'll need less storage furniture taking space out of your rooms. 

I totally agree.  Split level flats in London are an easy example of huge amounts of wasted space on stairs and hallways!  

T1T2T3T4

Doozergirl said:

T1T2T3T4 said:

Mickygg said:

Yes be careful. I went through mine and was definitely 100 sq feet too much overall. I included everything. 

Is there a way of checking other than manually measuring everything? Yes I'm concerned that the house we're looking at is overestimated size wise. And like I said, we use it to gage how it fairs with other properties and how much space we're getting for our money

Use the external footprint instead of internal. 

A cavity wall is 30cm thick.  Internal walls more like 15cm unless they were originally external
walls, in which case use 30cm as a guide.   Add measurements for the thickness of each wall to the floorplan measurements to come up with length and width, then multiply for the external area. 

Back to primary school maths! 

Might try this actually! Thank you 

T1T2T3T4

pinkteapot said:

Also, square footage isn't the be-all and end-all (especially if the houses you're viewing are of a similar-ish size). Room layouts (how the layout has been designed) makes a MASSIVE difference to how usable spaces actually are. Look at how much of a room's wall space is taken up by doors, windows and radiators as it limits you on furniture layout. Look at built-in storage cupboards (often more of them in older houses than newer) - they mean you'll need less storage furniture taking space out of your rooms. 

That's a very good point actually thank you! 

FtbDreaming

Out of curiosity I just calculated my square footage and it’s just short of 1000 square foot. Is that big? 

I mean it’s a fairly sized 3 bedroom mid terraced but neither large or small really. Surely the best way of knowing if a house is the right size is by walking around it 

T1T2T3T4

pinkteapot said:

Also, square footage isn't the be-all and end-all (especially if the houses you're viewing are of a similar-ish size). Room layouts (how the layout has been designed) makes a MASSIVE difference to how usable spaces actually are. Look at how much of a room's wall space is taken up by doors, windows and radiators as it limits you on furniture layout. Look at built-in storage cupboards (often more of them in older houses than newer) - they mean you'll need less storage furniture taking space out of your rooms. 

 Does floor spacing totals include the built in furniture or do they measure around/outside them? 

ace33

I think a bit of both is required, it gives you a fair basic idea but you can only really compare on viewings.

T1T2T3T4

FtbDreaming said:

Out of curiosity I just calculated my square footage and it’s just short of 1000 square foot. Is that big? 

I mean it’s a fairly sized 3 bedroom mid terraced but neither large or small really. Surely the best way of knowing if a house is the right size is by walking around it 

I think what is big/small for someone is individual. Might be worth viewing to get an idea if 1000sqft is adequate for you?

davidmcn

T1T2T3T4 said:

pinkteapot said:

Also, square footage isn't the be-all and end-all (especially if the houses you're viewing are of a similar-ish size). Room layouts (how the layout has been designed) makes a MASSIVE difference to how usable spaces actually are. Look at how much of a room's wall space is taken up by doors, windows and radiators as it limits you on furniture layout. Look at built-in storage cupboards (often more of them in older houses than newer) - they mean you'll need less storage furniture taking space out of your rooms. 

 Does floor spacing totals include the built in furniture or do they measure around/outside them? 

They might, they might not. In short, there are no rules about this sort of thing (as long as the vendors/agents aren't being absurdly misleading about it).

Decent floor plans (like e.g. this one) will show you where they've done the measurements.

AdrianC

This isn't 1843. Can we please use square metres instead of square feet?

The UK first passed metrication legislation in the mid 60s... Metric has been the legally-required measurement system for decades now.

Doozergirl

AdrianC said:

This isn't 1843. Can we please use square metres instead of square feet?

The UK first passed metrication legislation in the mid 60s... Metric has been the legally-required measurement system for decades now.

This made me laugh. 

My friend sent me a measurement of "41 inches" the other day.  It baffled me.  She's 43.  Who talks like that?    Has she never had to relay a measurement to someone before?  

Estate agents should give up putting imperial measurements on floor plans.  You will not find a construction related person to talk to you in imperial.

Unless Brexit takes us back?!