How to Measure and Identify the Square Footage of Your Residence

When filling out your Fortify Form after purchasing your Fortify Plan, one crucial step is accurately measuring and identifying the square footage of your residence. The square footage of your home directly impacts the security recommendations in your Fortify Plan. Knowing how to measure the square footage of your house, condo, apartment, or townhouse ensures that your Fortify Plan is tailored to your exact living space. This guide will walk you through the process, giving you the tools and tips you need for accurate measurements.

1. How to Measure Square Footage

To measure square footage, you need to measure the length and width of each room in your home, then multiply these two numbers to get the area for each room. Add up the square footage of all the rooms to get the total.

Step-by-Step Square Footage Measurement Guide:

  1. Start by measuring the length and width of a room.
  2. Multiply the length by the width to calculate the room’s square footage.
  3. Repeat the process for each room in your home.
  4. Add the square footage of all rooms together for the total square footage of your residence.

2. Calculating Square Footage of a House

When calculating the square footage of a house, focus on the livable space—rooms that are used year-round, such as bedrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. Exclude areas like unfinished basements, garages, and outdoor spaces unless they are finished and livable.

Home Square Footage Tips:

  • Measure from the inside of each wall to get the interior square footage.
  • Don’t forget to measure hallways, closets, and any other small spaces that contribute to livable space.

For your Fortify Form, ensure you report the total square footage based on the interior measurements of your home’s livable areas.

3. Measuring Square Footage of a Condo or Apartment

When measuring the square footage of a condo or apartment, the process is the same as for a house, but often with fewer rooms and a more compact layout. Focus on measuring interior spaces, and be sure to include any livable areas such as balconies or terraces if they are part of your condo’s total space.

Measure Apartment Square Footage:

  • Measure the length and width of each room and common area.
  • Include storage spaces, but exclude shared hallways or common areas outside of your unit.

For condos and apartments, use an accurate square footage calculation to fill out your Fortify Form, ensuring you include all livable indoor spaces.

4. Square Footage of a Townhouse

Townhouses typically span multiple floors, so it’s essential to measure the square footage of each level. Follow the same process of measuring the length and width of rooms on each floor and adding them together to get the total.

Square Footage of a Townhouse:

  • Measure each room, including hallways and stairways, on every floor.
  • For split-level townhouses, measure each level separately and combine the totals.

When reporting your square footage in the Fortify Form, make sure to include all floors for a complete and accurate total.

5. Exterior vs Interior Square Footage

One common mistake is confusing exterior square footage (the total size of the home’s structure, including walls) with interior square footage (the usable space inside the home). For the Fortify Form, you’ll need to focus on the interior, livable square footage.

Exterior vs Interior Square Footage:

  • Interior square footage refers to the space inside the walls where you live.
  • Exterior square footage includes walls, patios, and non-livable spaces, which you should not include unless they are fully enclosed and heated.

Stick to measuring the interior square footage to ensure an accurate report for your Fortify Plan.

6. Square Footage vs Livable Space

Not all square footage is considered livable space. Livable space refers to rooms and areas that are suitable for year-round occupancy, such as bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms. Unfinished basements, garages, and attics are typically excluded unless they are fully finished.

Square Footage vs Livable Space:

  • Livable space includes rooms like bedrooms, kitchens, and living areas.
  • Exclude unfinished spaces, garages, and outdoor areas unless converted into livable rooms.

When filling out your Fortify Form, focus on reporting livable square footage to get the most accurate security recommendations for your residence.

7. Square Footage Calculation Tools

There are many tools available to help make measuring square footage easier, from online calculators to mobile apps. These tools allow you to enter the dimensions of each room and automatically calculate the square footage for you.

Square Footage Calculation Tools:

  • Tape Measure or Laser Measure: Traditional methods for measuring rooms.
  • Online Calculators: Websites that let you input room dimensions and provide a total square footage.
  • Mobile Apps: Apps like MagicPlan and RoomScan Pro that use your phone’s camera or sensors to measure your rooms.

Using these tools can help ensure you have an accurate square footage calculation when filling out your Fortify Form.