How Are the Sq-Ft of a House Calculated. Inside, Outside?

SWPaDon · Post by **SWPaDon** » Mon. Nov. 23, 2015 12:32 pm

davidmcbeth3 wrote:You call the assessor and ask. I don't think it matters as far as tax purposes go as long as the assessor is consistent.

As far as being accurate? Its only make believe..I hate assessors. Who would let them on their land and perform a search?
My law firm of Smith and Wesson don't like that.

My neighbors wouldn't let the assessor in the house. They didn't want her to see the heated in ground pool.

oliver power · Post by **oliver power** » Fri. Dec. 04, 2015 10:02 pm

Guess it would depend on if you were the drywall man, the HVAC man, or the siding man.

Always safe to go with outside measurements. If you build a 30 x 40 building, then that's what you have, a 30 x 40 building. Just because you made the walls thicker for insulation, etc., that doesn't change the building size. ....and from a heating stand point, you're better off calculating on the high side.

SMITTY · Post by **SMITTY** » Fri. Dec. 04, 2015 10:23 pm

Outside here too. Just had the assessors snooping around here last spring for some strange reason. Only came here - not to the neighbor's place or any other houses ....

Anyway, they just wanted to know what's been done to the house (not a damn thing), and what the layout of the house was as far as what was used, and what wasn't. Told them the truth - the house is a dump, we don't use the second floor because we can't afford to heat it, and all my out-buildings are in shambles. Luckily I happened to be doing the front end on my Silverado when they showed. Told them how much of a POS that truck was as well. Go tax someone else!

Ended up a GREAT day though. They showed me this paper, and wanted me to sign it. Glad I read everything before I did! My house was listed at 4,200 square feet!!! I said, "WTF is this measurement here?" She says, "That's your house square footage". I said, "What house is THAT???" She asked if she could measure it - I told her, "I'll hold the f'in tape for ya!"

So basically I've been getting porked for the past 12.5 years. Think the state will refund that money??? Yeah, as soon as our commander in chief grows a pair ...

Won't be holding my breath on either ...

Anyway ... they found my square footage to be 1,400 and change. Like I said ... that was this past spring. STILL WAITING for my F'ING TAXES TO GO DOWN ....

Post by **Lightning** » Sat. Dec. 05, 2015 3:06 am

Have you talked to an attorney? I can't believe you wouldn't be able to get that money back.

I've been lucky so far. My house was assessed for about half what it's worth now and hasn't changed. Oops, maybe I shouldn't say that out loud lol.

Post by **Richard S.** » Sat. Dec. 05, 2015 9:20 am

davidmcbeth3 wrote: I don't think it matters as far as tax purposes

The assessment is going to be based on similar sized houses in your area. If you want to appeal you have to look at what other houses are assessed at or even better find recent sales of houses with similar characteristics.

Who would let them on their land and perform a search?

If you don't allow them to look they have to guess and that can go either way.