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The difference between the useful area, the built area and the built-up area deployed and their impact on the value

Posted by
Georgiana Săvulescu

In estimating the market value, apart from the analysis of ownership, conditions of sale, market conditions, location, an important aspect is the physical characteristics (level of finishes, surface area, height regime, etc.). Today we are going to turn our attention to one of the elements that completes the physical characteristics, namely the surface.

When you want to buy a real estate property, house, apartment, commercial or industrial spaces, it is important to know the differences between the usable area, the built area and the built area developed. The area of the property can influence the value of a property. If you do not work in the field of construction or in a field auxiliary to it, it is difficult to make a distinction between these 3 types of surfaces, but to have a clear picture of them we will explain to you in detail what is the difference between them.

In the cadastral documentation related to the building you want to purchase, you will encounter 3 types of surfaces, respectively: the usable area, the built area and the developed built area.

The useful area (Su) of a property is the sum of all useful areas of the rooms. It includes: living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, storage spaces (pantries, closets) and traffic spaces inside the dwelling.

We must emphasize that in the useful area are not included the surface of loggias and balconies, thresholds of door voids, passages with openings up to 1.00 m, niches of radiators, as well as surfaces occupied by stoves, where the heating is done with stoves.

The market value of a building is also calculated on the basis of this useful area. The price per square meter refers to the useful area of the building. In ads on specialized sites dedicated to ads for the sale of properties, some owners include in the useful area and the surface of the balcony, which is incorrect. Or there are cases when sellers specify the price by relating to built square meters, and the buyer may be misled by believing that it is useful square meters.

The built area (Sc) is the area built on the ground.

The built-up area is the sum of the useful surfaces of the rooms, loggias, balconies, terraces, to which is added the area corresponding to the inner and outer walls of the dwelling, platforms, access stairs.

Areas relating to basement stalls and garages which can be provided separately are not included.

The developed built area (Scd) is the sum of all the built-up areas, on all levels, on their outer contours. Scd unfolded is the unfolded surface of all floors.

In the case of apartments, it is their built area, and for individual houses with one or more floors, their developed built area is taken into account, according to the data from the cadastral plan.

Our advice is that if you do not have knowledge in the field of construction and you are not sure of the information provided by the seller or you want to have a clear situation of all the aspects that can make the valuation process difficult, we recommend that you seek the help of a specialist to avoid unpleasant situations that may arise during the trading process.

Buy responsibly!

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