In estimating market value, in addition to analyzing ownership, conditions of sale, market conditions, location, an important aspect is the physical characteristics (level of finishes, surface area, height regime, etc.). Today we will turn our attention to one of the elements that completes the physical characteristics, namely the surface area.

When you want to buy a real estate property, house, apartment, commercial or industrial premises, it is important to know the differences between the useful area, the built area and the developed built area. The area of ​​the building can influence the value of a property. If you do not work in the construction field or in an auxiliary field, it is difficult to make a distinction between these 3 types of areas, but to have a clear picture of them we will explain in detail what the difference is between them.

In the cadastral documentation related to the property you wish to purchase, you will encounter 3 types of surfaces, namely: useful area, built area and developed built area.

Usable area (Su) of a property is the sum of all the usable areas of the rooms. It includes: living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, storage spaces (pantries, closets) and circulation spaces inside the home.

We must emphasize that the usable area does not include the surface of loggias and balconies, thresholds of doorways, passages with openings up to 1.00 m, radiator niches, as well as the surfaces occupied by stoves, if heating is done with stoves.

The market value of a property is also calculated based on this usable area. The price per square meter refers to the usable area of ​​the property. In advertisements on specialized websites dedicated to property sales, some owners include the balcony area in the usable area, which is incorrect. Or there are cases where sellers specify the price in terms of built square meters, and the buyer may be misled into thinking that it is about usable square meters.

Built-up area (Sc) is the built-up area on the ground.

The built area represents the sum of the useful areas of the rooms, loggias, balconies, terraces, to which is added the area corresponding to the interior and exterior walls of the home, platforms, and access stairs.

The areas related to basement storage rooms and garages, which may be provided separately, are not included.

Built-up area (Scd) represents the sum of all built areas, on all levels, on their outer contours. Scd unfolded is the unfolded area of ​​all floors.

In the case of apartments, it is about their built area, and for individual houses with one or more floors, their developed built area is taken into account, according to the data from the cadastral plan.

Our advice is that if you do not have knowledge in the field of construction and are not sure about the information provided by the seller or you want to have a clear situation of all the aspects that may complicate the evaluation process, we recommend that you seek the help of a specialist to avoid unpleasant situations that may arise during the transaction process.

Buy responsibly!