Practice Exam #1

Quiz #1: Residential Square Footage

Measuring square footage in a single-family dwelling is an important part of listing any residential property. Buyers, sellers, agents, appraisers, and many others, all rely on the accuracy of your square footage information. Take this short quiz to find out how well you measure up on size and calculating residential square footage.

Q. In order to properly calculate the square footage of a dormer:

Measure the width or distance between the interior walls and add the width of one exterior wall

Calculate square footage from interior measurements only, length by width equals total

Measure the length from the interior wall “corner,” to the beginning of the exterior wall, and then add the width of the exterior wall

Measure the length from the interior wall “corner,” to the beginning of the exterior wall, without adding for the width of the exterior wall

Q. “Finished” square footage is defined as:

Space which is heated and/or cooled by a central, permanently installed system

Space suitable for year round occupancy

All of the above

Space embodying walls, floors, and ceilings, which are similar to the rest of the main living area

Q. “GLA” or “gross living area” should not be confused with finished or heated square footage. GLA (while finished and heated) must also be:

Finished the same on all levels, above or below grade

All below grade space

Above grade, including all unfinished space

Above grade only

Q. Which of the following is NOT a reliable source of square footage information?

Sketch from a previous MLS listing

Sketch provided by the owner

All of the above

Public tax records

Q. Most states provide continuing education for all the following, Except:

Mandatory Commission Updates

Buyer Representation

Ethics Training

Risk Reduction

Fair Housing

Red Flags and Property Inspections

Real Estate Finance

Square Footage Training

Q. Square footage provides:

A specific unit of comparison by which buyers and sellers relate property value

A basis for comparison to help estimate a logical value

A method of determining the “size” of a property, which has been used in the U.S. public records system well over 200 years

All of the above

Q. “Below Grade” is defined as:

Any basement space which has GLA or finished living area

Finished space which is accessible by interior stairs and has earth adjacent to any exterior wall

Any space which is categorized as a basement

Any space (finished, partially finished, or unfinished), which is below ground level and has earth adjacent to any exterior wall

Q. If earth is adjacent to any portion of any wall:

The entire level is considered as below grade

All the space must be measured by exterior only measurements

All the space must be measured by exterior measurements

All the space is included in GBA calculations

Q. What photos are recommended and should be included within the closed or sold “MLS” information?

An artist rendering or architect’s exterior drawings

A photo of the same dwelling built in another location

A photo taken while a new house is being constructed

A front and rear photo, and a photo of anything that provides contributory value

Q. A Bay window is defined by all the following, Except:

Space with a ceiling height of at least seven feet

Space with a floor underneath which is a functional part of the floor plan

Space which is a window seat or plant shelf with no floored space

Space which is finished similar to the surrounding living area

Q. Public records provide:

Details created in a mass appraisal system, created specifically for tax assessment purposes

All of the above

Fast and easy access to a specific square footage number

Information available to any individual or company, which may charge a fee for that information or the processing of that information

Q. To create the equivalent of an exterior measurement, using interior dimensions only (as a rule of thumb):

Use measurements defined by local custom or building codes

Add four inches for each exterior wall

Add five inches for all siding (vinyl, wood, etc) exteriors and seven inches for exterior sidings such as brick or stone

Add five tenths of a foot or six inches for each exterior wall, but always view the material of the exterior siding and calculate the total on a case by case basis

Q. “Modular” home construction:

Was developed over a century ago and sold in great quantities by Sears, Roebuck and Company®

Provides nearly fifty percent of all home construction today

Provides the least expensive method of construction available

Has been developed within the last thirty years

Q. The “MLS” database:

Is dependent on the quality and level of detail provided by each agent

Is considered “the most trusted source of real estate information in the world”

All of the above

Is created one closed sale at a time

Q. When measuring an attached garage:

Count any space which is open and finished similar to the rest of the garage

tart at the exterior garage wall and end the measurement at the start of the interior wall, where it adjoins any finished space

Start at the exterior garage wall and end the measurement at the start of the interior wall; then add the width of the interior wall, to equal exterior measurements

Measure from interior wall to interior wall

Q. What is NAR’s new “ultimate information resource” set to be released in 2010, which will provide access to tax and assessment data; property data; neighborhood, demographic and psychographic information; maps, trends and reports; and zoning, permits, environmental, neighborhoods, and school districts - and be exclusive to members of NAR?

The RPID - Realtor’s Property Information Database

The RPR - Realtor’s Property Resource

The ABR - Automated Broker’s Resource

The UPR - Ultimate Property Resource

Q. As a rule of thumb, measurements should be taken in tenths of a foot using the rounding “rule” of:

Always round up to the next highest inch

Always round down to the next lowest tenth of a foot

Five tenths of a inch or less is rounded down; anything over five tenths is rounded up

Six tenths of a foot or less is rounded down; anything over six tenths is rounded up

Q. “GLA” or “gross living area” should be reported as and is defined as; space which is:

Finished square footage (living area) above grade only

All enclosed (above grade) space, considered as “under roof”

Finished, partially finished, or unfinished, located above grade only

All finished living area(s), above and below grade

Time's up

Michelle on March 29, 2021 at 6:59 pm

This definitely got my brain thinking about the way I would measure things

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