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should garage space be included in the square footage of a house

  • 19-03-2013 1:03pm
    #1
    Johnny Volume
    Closed Accounts Posts: 93 ✭✭


    Hi there,

    I'm currently looking at buying a house. Is it accurate / standard practice to include a non converted garage (attached to the side of the property) in the size (square footage / meterage) of the house?

    I ask because, the house size, as advertised by the Estate Agent, differs considerably from the house size detailed in the BER report.

    Any help, greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,
    John


Comments

  • #2
    DOCARCH
    Moderators, Home & Garden Moderators, Science, Health & Environment Moderators Posts: 18,451 Mod ✭✭✭✭DOCARCH


    I would say no, it should not be included in the area of the house. The garage it is not an area you can live in/not habitable.


  • #3
    hexosan
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,740 ✭✭✭hexosan


    Sounds like a marketing ploy by the estate agent to me.


  • #4
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,555 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    Whether the garage is attached or detached from the house it is still a garage at the end of the day and is not habitable accommodation. Therefore any property for sale should state the floor area of the house with the area of the garage stated separately.

    I dont know what rules or guidelines estate agent operate to but there must some standard somewhere. I'll ring a guy I know who is an auctioneer and see what he can tell me about this type of activity and I'll post back when I get some info.


  • #5
    Johnny Volume
    Closed Accounts Posts: 93 ✭✭Johnny Volume


    muffler wrote: »
    Whether the garage is attached or detached from the house it is still a garage at the end of the day and is not habitable accommodation. Therefore any property for sale should state the floor area of the house with the area of the garage stated separately.

    I dont know what rules or guidelines estate agent operate to but there must some standard somewhere. I'll ring a guy I know who is an auctioneer and see what he can tell me about this type of activity and I'll post back when I get some info.


    Thanks Muffler that would be great.

    Another estate agent told me they do NOT include the garage, unless it's accessible from within the house i.e. via an internal door. I would be of the opinion that if it's not a habitable space, it should not be included. The fact that it's at the side of the house should not matter. Why not include the garden shed in that case.

    I could be wrong but there doesn't seem to be any legal clarity in this area, just guidelines that are not enforceable by law. Please correct me if that is not the case.


  • #6
    muffler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 46,555 ✭✭✭✭muffler


    muffler wrote: »
    I'll ring a guy I know who is an auctioneer and see what he can tell me about this type of activity and I'll post back when I get some info.
    I managed to nab him yesterday in a car park just before he went into a restaurant and as he was in a bit of a rush to meet a client the conversation was brief.

    Basically he said that it was okay to include the floor area of an integral garage as part of the overall floor area of the house/building providing it was disclosed/pointed out that there was a garage included and that it was not advertised as being habitable space


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  • #7
    ted1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,902 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    Does it really matter what it says on paper?
    How do you feel about the size of the house?


  • #8
    Johnny Volume
    Closed Accounts Posts: 93 ✭✭Johnny Volume


    ted1 wrote: »
    Does it really matter what it says on paper?
    I would say it does matter. The specification of the item being sold should be accurately defined. I have no problem with the garage being included in the floor space once it's identified as such. I don't think that's an unreasonable request. If you were buying a car, you wouldn't be happy to pay for a 1600cc engine that turned out to be 1400cc.
    ted1 wrote: »
    How do you feel about the size of the house?
    I like the house but for the purposes of comparing it with other properties, it would be helpful if the house size was clearly and accurately represented. I ask for no more than that.


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