Square footage

excluding basment, even if used as living space. ~Kat

"help is on the way" ~John Kerry

air conditioned or heated floor space

Why? It's a two-story house with one level below ground.

According to Dilbert's dream house, it's not only cheaper to put the second floor below ground, it's WAY cheaper to heat and cool the result.

Thanks all!!

If I remember correctly, during my brief career in Real Estate, you measure the outside dimensions and multiply by the number of floors above grade. It's gets a bit tricky with backsplits etc., but the same principle applies. Commercial space is the same btw.

Peter H

The tax assessor and insurers use the outside wall dimensions but that is not really a fair number if you are looking at living space. That number may be used by real estate folks but mostly because that is a published number that is available as a public record. If I get a few minutes I will look at a set of plans and see how builders come up with their numbers.

And if the dwelling is completely below ground?

And if commercial space is below ground level?

Bah!

This is totally dependent on where you are. When we built our house the local planning department used *all covered space* (i think higher than

Yep!

During the brief time I had a real estate sales license, we were taught the same thing. Exterior measured area times number of floors but don't count "unfinished space."

If you are comparing properties for your own use, count basements (finished or not) separately.