Explained: Building Areas
There are a variety of ways to calculate the size of a building, and there can be some confusion and even frustration about how this is done. Many real estate transactions focus heavily on the size of the building, so having an accurate, standard way to measure a building is vital.
The
Building Area refers to the total area of the building, including garages, porches and other similar additions,
whether or not if they are fully enclosed or climate controlled. This excludes such areas as patios, sheds, carports, balconies, pools, pool enclosures, etc .
The
Living Area refers to the total
fully enclosed and climate controlled area of the building (excluding garages, open porches and other areas that are not climate controlled).
The
Adjusted Area is a number the county calculates and provides to us to normalize the valuation for the different areas of a building that have non-standard qualities or finishes. Adjusted area isn't meant to be an actual measurement of the size of a building....it is a calculation to compare that building (and it's parts) to other generic buildings in a relative manner for comparison purposes...so it doesn't mean something specific that is easy for users or consumers to understand. A 400sf area of a building with vaulted ceilings might have an Adjusted Area of 600sf...effectively adding roughly the same amount of value as 600sf of average building area might. A 200 sf attic area with low ceilings might have an adjusted area of 100sf. A 60sf open porch might have an Adjusted Area of 6sf. These calculations are all controlled by the county assessment process.
In general, we utilize the official building measurements taken by the local assessment officials, as they use standardized methodology for every building and are considered impartial and apply the same to comparable properties throughout the county. These measurements may vary from your personal measurements or measurements of blueprints, if different methodologies are used. If you see a discrepancy in the measurements, we advise you to contact the local assessment authorities to have the building measurements updated. Not all areas are available in all areas, depending on the local assessment authorities.
On iMapp reports, you will often see the a Subarea section, which describes the size of various areas of the building. These areas often can be added together to understand how the Total and Living Areas are calculated.
