Gross living area
The finished, heated square footage above grade, measured from outside walls. This is the number that shows up in listings and appraisals. Basements don't usually count.
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Where this comes up in a sale, and what follows
- Prep and photograph the home (comes before)
Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
GLA is the square footage that the listing, the appraisal and the comps all use, measured from the outside walls above grade. Getting it right avoids a listing that overstates and an appraisal that corrects it.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
The county says 1,750 square feet. The appraiser measures 1,710 above grade and lists the finished basement separately.
| The source of the number | What it tends to say |
|---|---|
| The county assessor | Often close, sometimes off by a room |
| The appraiser's measurement | The number the lender uses |
| A listing that includes the basement | Larger, and likely to be challenged |
GLA is measured, above grade, from outside. Anything else is a description.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That the number on the county's site is the number. Appraisers measure, and the two often differ by a little.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
In your Room, this word explains itself where it appears.
Your Room defines gross living area in the step you meet it in, beside the document or the date it belongs to. Free to set up, with an agent or on your own.
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