Sometimes when people are considering buying a home, they think about the amount of living area, commonly known as Gross Living Area (GLA) that a home has. The question may arise- what exactly is considered to be GLA?
The GLA of a home is the area of the above-grade, finished living area as measured around the exterior of the building, as defined by ANSI.
The typical items that are NOT considered in the GLA are:
This is important to understand, because some sellers, buyers, or real estate agents sometimes confuse this concept, claiming a much larger GLA than what there really is. For example, I've seen many instances where the MLS claims a much larger GLA for a home because they are counting the finished basement.
Also, before buying a home, it might be a wise idea to actually have the GLA verified. I have seen many cases where the GLA stated in the MLS is taken from public records, but when actually measured, was significantly smaller.
If you have any questions about the GLA of your home, give me a call or email. I can probably tell you what is considered part of the GLA calculation or not. I also offer an inexpensive home measurement service if you would like to remove any doubt.