Do cathedral ceilings add to a houses square footage

[Kaos]

I'm having a debate w/ relatives as to wether or not cathedral ceilings add to the square footage. Some say only the walking space is considered, but I think I was told by an tax agent that the ceiling height was also figured in. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

[Deuce67]

No. What is considered square footage for a home is what is actually livable floor space. So closets and such is not included. If they include the ceiling height then it would be cube footage i think.

[PUGroyale]

smart relatives :D

[IchHater]

square footage is only floor area. just measure length x width of every room and add it all together

[SpaceFish]

"but I think I was told by an tax agent that the ceiling height was also figured in"-

You may be thinking of an appraisal. This would be when ceiling height would come into play as it adds value.

~R

[Wolverine]

Even unfinished basements don't count towards square footage.

I think SpaceFish is right; it's probably an appraiser you're thinking of.

Dave

[wasp9166]

yeah and finished basements don't even count unless you let the assessor in , =)

[VCoo71]

i am a framer and i get paid the footage for basements and closets too,,,,,its funny because they dont include the footage of a basemnt or a garage on the plans..but i just add that in

charlie

[Real Reefs]

Nope, only to your cubic footage:)

[pnosko]

Ceiling height can actually play a factor in the square footage calculation for assessment purposes. The code here says if the ceiling is below 5ft (such as a loft bedroom with sloped ceilings), the space doesn't count towards living space.

[Kaos]

Yeah, I think I was getting it confused w/ the total value assessment. Oh, well, so I'm only right 99.9% of time.

[Jamesurq]

here it doesn't make a difference in the assessment.

I have 14 foot ceilings in half of the downstairs and 12 in the rest, with drop ceilings and crown mouldings, etc....

Still the same price per square foot as a house with 9 foot ceilings...

[Sierra]

Originally posted by Jamesurq
here it doesn't make a difference in the assessment.

I have 14 foot ceilings in half of the downstairs and 12 in the rest, with drop ceilings and crown mouldings, etc....

Still the same price per square foot as a house with 9 foot ceilings...

yes, BUT My last house's living room ceiling was 2 stories high. I believe it comes into play on appraisal when the cieling highth is a selling point - The Vastness of the living area and the handsomeness of the design was THE selling point of my home and certainly effected the selling price. We could be firm on our price as the prospective buyers were "In Love" with it.

Thats why you never fall in love with a house before you buy it.... You can get sucked into something you cant handle when you are in love.

[wasp9166]

with houses or women? ;)

[Sierra]

Originally posted by wasp9166
with houses or women? ;)

Oh I'm sorry I should have been more clear - I see how that could leave it open to your individual interpretation.

What I should have stated to clarify my statement was Houses and Men.

with an occasional car and car modification thrown in.

(Guilty)

[Nuhtty]

They dont count the space if you have an in-home office, either. Plus you get a tax break

[KT & SJ]

no

[Ludwigia73]

Simple definition wise, square footage doesn't change, but cubic footage does.

[pnosko]

Originally posted by Nuhtty
They dont count the space if you have an in-home office, either. Plus you get a tax break Who are they? And yes, you get a tax break while you're claiming that home office, but when you sell that deduction may just come back and bite you.

[Agu]

Cathedral ceilings don't add to square footage but adds to cubic footage. If that influences taxes or valuation depends on regional standards. In Mn where I used to live they began using both sq footage and cubic footage to determine taxes. The assumption was that if you chose to waste space it was your problem .

In any case anything above the standard 8' ceiling makes your home more valuable which will raise your valuation for tax purposes. But you get that back when/if you sell so get the home that you want to live in.

imo,ime,

Agu