Confusion, disappointments and even lawsuits can all flow from varying square-footage measurements of condominium homes. None of it is necessary. Problems stem first from an over reliance on numbers, rather than focusing on the practically-laid out and useable space in a condominium townhouse or apartment home. Compounding the problem, especially in homes bought before they are built and can be viewed, is with builders over-stating the floor area that buyers will ultimately receive.
Let's solve the second problem first. Condo home builders should only quote the Condo Plan measure, rather than "builder's measure" or "architect's measure". Condo home buyers are not builders or architects. They are folks relying on honesty and fair representation about what they are buying. Builders are commissioning a Condominium Plan and have construction drawings. They know what they're building and how big it will be when the Condo Plan is done, so should quote that square footage number and no other. As a Vancouver-based builder once found out in Calgary, to do otherwise is to risk ending up in court.
But condo buyers should know that the issue of varying floor-area measurements is not going away any time soon. There are five or 10 different ways to measure every home. Do we measure the outside walls, mid-point between suites, or use inside measure, also called "paint-to-paint"? Do we include balconies and your share of the hallways? Do we deduct partition walls within the suite? Is the enclosed and heated attached garage of a townhouse part of the suite or not? It's certainly part of the "unit" on the Condo Plan. Yet MLS Realtors subtract (or should!) that area from the livable square footage that we promote to sell that home.
Obviously, complete agreement will never be achieved on how to measure condominium apartment and townhouse homes. But perhaps the numbers are not as important as we thought, at least other than in cases where we buy before the home is built. In fact, a smaller suite can appear to be larger and have more useable floor area than a larger suite next door. Fewer partition walls and longer lines of sight to a smaller suite's corners can allow less floor area appear to be and to function larger than more divided spaces.
We should focus less on the numbers and more on the practicality of the space and its market value. Sure the area measure promoted by the seller should match the Condominium Plan... but don't count on it.
Calgary Condominium Directory
