Jim,

There is, in fact, a standard for calculating the square footage of residential properties. You may want to check out ANSI Standard Z765-1996 from the American National Standards Institute, Inc.

The title is American National Standard for Single-Family Residential Buildings - Square Footage - Method for Calculating. Although you make a number of valid points, there a a couple of broad generalizations in your reply which migh not hold up under closer scrutiny.

Square footage is not important in all single family residential transactions, but it is very important in more than a few and Price Per Square Foot is an important unit of comparison for some folks, not only to derive an indication of value, but indications of quality, cost and contribution of land value or building value.

If the calculation of Square Footage is beyond the capabilities of the practitioner, they might consider contracting with a surveyor or appraiser to do the measuring and arithmetic for them.

Frank