Square Footage Discrepancy

Dear Phyllis,
I always enjoy your column and
love learning something new. My
son plans to sell his home in the
next few months. He will use a
friend who is a Realtor for both
the sale and the purchase of a new
home.

The appraiser measured
his home at 1,981 square feet.
However, the tax assessor lists
only 1,745. With homes selling for
about $850 per square foot, this
square footage discrepancy could
significantly affect the home’s
value. It does not appear that any
rooms were added to his home. My
son’s Realtor says he cannot quote
the appraiser’s measurement. I
am curious about the best way to
handle this situation.
— Nancy

Dear Nancy,
Thank you for your question
and for being a loyal reader. He
could appeal to the tax assessor
to update the record, but I don’t
think that is necessary.
Square footage discrepancies
between tax assessor records and
appraisals are common. Still,
this difference could have a real
impact on your son’s selling price,
especially in today’s market.

I don’t see why your son’s
Realtor cannot disclose both
numbers. For example, the listing
could state that the assessor
notes 1,745 square feet, while the
appraiser measured 1,981. This
approach is transparent and helps
potential buyers understand the
situation.

Because this discrepancy
is substantial, I recommend
obtaining another opinion from
a professional measurer. If your
son’s Realtor does not know a
reliable measurer, his real estate
agent can call my office for a
recommendation. I typically hire a
professional to tape the home and
develop a floor plan. This enables
buyers to determine furniture
placement, etc. Getting a precise
measurement before going on the
market is important and can help
avoid a later renegotiation.
It is also important that your
son or his agent disclose the
square footage discrepancy to
interested buyers. They should
be encouraged to verify the
measurement themselves if they
wish.

While the numbers differ, your
son has options. He can disclose
both figures, obtain a professional
measurement and advise buyers
to confirm for themselves. Taking
these steps helps ensure smoother
sale.

Best wishes to your son as
he prepares to sell his home.
Handling the square footage
discrepancy before marketing
to the public is the smartest
approach.

Phyllis