by Sean Hess (Sean@StAugTeam.com), Broker and Manager for St. Augustine Team Realty (www.StAugustineTeamRealty.com). Join us on Facebook.
I bought a house last month and I just discovered the square footage was wrong! What do I do? Who was negligent?
Did you check the measurements yourself?
This question came up in an online forum this morning and here’s how I answered it…
You were…here’s why: the appraisal. If you financed the home you get an appraisal, and the appraisal notes the square footage. When you signed the closing paperwork you signed off on the appraisal. If you had any issue with the square footage that was the time to say something.
Failing that you could have checked that tax rolls and compared that number with the advertised square footage, or you could have simply measured the house yourself.
Even the survey would have had the square footage on it.
Here’s what Brian Rayl, a Dallas Realtor, said on the subject: “Does it say where [the seller] got the number that they used? If so, it was probably the tax roles. They have a reference point to show that they believed the number to be true and accurate, so it would not be a misrepresentation, it would be a mistake. Big difference. Legally and ethically responsible? You are, and perhaps your agent.”
But does it really matter? Obviously there was something you liked about the house. It passed the eyeball test in the sense that, to your eyes anyway, the available space would fit your needs. Does it fit your needs any less now, and if so, why?
For a company that will always help you navigate the available square footage, choose St. Augustine Team Realty. Email us at requestion@staugteam.com .
