Praful Thakkar, Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale (LAER Realty Partners)

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Rainmaker
4,477,876
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

This answer will likely vary.  By area and even by agent.  Certain situations may come into play as well.  

Sep 04, 2019 08:55 AM
Rainmaker
2,287,426
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

We do in our market Praful Thakkar 

Sep 04, 2019 09:07 AM
Ambassador
6,172,600
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

As long as it is finished, and this is all separated out on our MLS as to finished, unfinished, below ground and above etc.

Sep 04, 2019 09:02 AM
Rainmaker
4,957,422
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

North Carolina State has rigorous rules on how we account for basement or attic space (or any additional space connected to or separate from the main dwelling) when we list having to do with whether or not it's heated living area, finished living area, etc. We pay no attention to tax records for square footage in our listings... they are notoriously incorrect and one of the first things we are taught in real estate school is to never use the tax records' square footage for listings in mls.

Sep 04, 2019 09:30 AM
Rainmaker
5,582,560
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

if and when that happens, it's clearly described in the remarks.... the living area should be above grade....

Sep 04, 2019 08:50 AM
Rainmaker
1,011,315
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

We don't do basements here, BUT we do lots of AZ rooms.

IF they are fully habitable (insulated, heated cooled plumbing electrical AND they 'flow' with the rest of the house . . . like no 'step down' to a converted garage . . . they can be counted in square footage. We defer to City/County records to see what was permitted, and taxed. If it does not pass all that muster, it's noted that there is that additional living space that does not show up in official records. I have argued with sellers over this. Your drywalled-in garage mancave is not square footage!

Sep 04, 2019 10:55 AM
Rainmaker
1,478,512
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

We do not have basements in California, with a few exceptions.  What we do get are add-ons without permits.  For those the SF is usually listed as "Per Seller" or if they had an appraisal since the modification, then it's listed as "Per Appraiser".

Sep 04, 2019 04:42 PM
Rainmaker
1,231,736
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

Sounds like my area, too.  

As a Realtor, I knew that finishing my basement as a family room might not net us more $$$ at time of sale. However, we have been here 20+ years and have no plans to move in the near future.  We thoroughly enjoy our family room.                  Cactus in front of fireplace

 

Sep 04, 2019 03:41 PM
Rainmaker
1,817,710
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

We cannot do that here but there is a seperate space for basement, recroom.

We get fined.

Sep 04, 2019 09:41 AM
Rainmaker
469,460
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

2500 if the basement is truely finished and usable "living" area.

Sep 04, 2019 09:32 AM
Rainmaker
1,496,258
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

Unless it has ingress and egress it is not allowed here and if the listing shows more sq. ft. than tax records, there must be an explanation in the public remarks.

Sep 04, 2019 09:27 AM
Rainmaker
1,150,347
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street Topsfield, MA - Georgetown, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Only with a disclaimer that the finished basement square footage is included

Sep 05, 2019 03:49 AM
Ambassador
4,989,200
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Ours is broken down so, when we have basement space (both heated or unheated), we enter it into MLS as basement-heated or basement-unheated. 

Sep 04, 2019 10:56 PM
Rainmaker
781,959
Steve Higgins
RE/MAX Kelowna - Kelowna, BC

Here in BC all finished space is counted in the total Sq. Footage. However in different parts of Canada anything below ground level is not counted even if it is finished. 

Sep 04, 2019 06:14 PM
Rainmaker
741,350
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

Our MLS is so brilliant they've taken this into account allready. We can enter both but in separate fields- so it's clear what is above ground & what is below ground. 

Sep 04, 2019 03:49 PM
Rainmaker
884,617
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Yes, if it is a legal living area. On our MLS there is also a breakdown of sq footage based on location, where basement area is reported.

Sep 04, 2019 01:34 PM
Rainer
404,686
J.R. Schloemer, CRS
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

I do not. But FlexMLS will add it to give a total finished and unfinished sq footage. 

Sep 04, 2019 01:31 PM
Rainmaker
4,009,023
John Pusa
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Crest - Glendale, CA
Your All Time Realtor With Exceptional Service

Praful Thakkar it depends on the property and the area.

Sep 04, 2019 01:00 PM
Rainmaker
4,702,949
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

I have never listed a house with a basement.  In fact I have never been in a house in Texas that had a basement.

Sep 04, 2019 12:24 PM
Rainmaker
2,749,270
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Optional

Sep 04, 2019 11:34 AM
Rainmaker
669,516
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

We can disclose how we come up with the square footage in our MLS listing details - per county, per appraiser, per builder, per owner.  If per owner and there is something odd, we would let selling agents know that the square footage includes the finished basement.

Sep 04, 2019 11:33 AM
Rainmaker
1,598,402
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

Reading answers.

Sep 04, 2019 09:07 PM
Rainmaker
2,070,209
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

We don't have basements in our area. Don't know.

Sep 04, 2019 08:49 PM
Rainmaker
1,461,127
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

public records show what I can show. No more, no less.

Sep 04, 2019 08:23 PM
Ambassador
4,939,742
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Basements are very rare in my area...can't even recall seeing one...but if included it would be noted as below grade space.

Sep 04, 2019 08:03 PM
Ambassador
3,535,868
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

We do have some areas in Phoenix ( not many) that have big homes with basements that are more like just another part of the house - all totally finished out. Sold one recently that was huge - and it's exactly what my clients needed - huge. And yes, if a basement is finished out it is included in square footage.

Sep 04, 2019 02:26 PM
Rainmaker
5,771,745
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Yes, we would.  A

Sep 04, 2019 11:03 AM
Rainmaker
7,561,834
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

In our area, we use the square footage provided by the real estate assessor.

Sep 04, 2019 11:02 AM
Rainmaker
1,223,422
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

No basement here in this area. I do know one investor who could not build a 3000 sf sfh home on 1 level wne tunderground. Put the biggest granite slab and Subfreeze with a separate entry calling it 3000 sf and priced accordingly.  No one took the bait. 

Sep 04, 2019 09:38 AM
Ambassador
2,968,049
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

Yes, total living space is included here in my selling area. Not garage space though.

Sep 05, 2019 07:22 AM
Ambassador
3,272,075
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I am with Michael Jacobs on this.  I see similar details in my MLS - notes in the remarks that the square footage includes basement. The most important thing, IMHO, is to just disclose and avoid deception. 

Sep 05, 2019 12:52 PM
Ambassador
2,074,753
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

In our market, central Washington state, the basement is included and noted whether it is finished space or not.  Cellars without windows are not included.

Sep 05, 2019 06:41 AM
Rainmaker
3,413,258
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

That is a horrible practice, mis-leading and a good way to upset buyers. Our MLS also is against this. I do write it in the comments section though but onl SF above ground counts

Sep 05, 2019 05:29 AM
Ambassador
2,317,814
Kat Palmiotti
406-270-3667, kat@thehousekat.com, Broker/REALTOR® - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It depends on what the rules are for MLS in your area!

Sep 05, 2019 05:19 AM
Rainmaker
536,943
Rose Mary Justice
Synergy Realty Pros - Dandridge, TN
Synergy Realty Pros

Our mls is separated for main level, up, and down, then the total of all finished and unfinished space.

Sep 05, 2019 04:42 AM
Rainmaker
603,326
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

Our MLS breaks it out as above grade & below grade and total finished sq ft

Sep 05, 2019 04:26 AM
Rainmaker
5,004,652
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Above grade counts, below grade noted even if a walk-out!

Sep 05, 2019 03:53 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,272
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

In our Denver MLS, we enter the "above ground" SF, and it does show the total SF also.

Sep 21, 2019 07:06 AM
Rainmaker
869,672
Carla Freund
Keller Williams Preferred Realty - Raleigh, NC
Carolina Life RealEstate & Relocation 919-602-8489

Our MLS has a place for sf above ground and sf below ground and a spot for the total of the two. We do see agents add unpermitted space to totals and disclose that it is unpermitted. 

Sep 06, 2019 05:16 AM
Rainmaker
896,828
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Basements can be living areas, but are usually separated into finished and unfinished square footage. With all the photos allowed in MLS's these days, I would think most buyers could figure out what is finished in basements just by looking at the photos.

Sep 06, 2019 04:31 AM
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