Difference between useful and built meters
We explain the difference between useful and built meters and how to measure them.
One of the most important issues to consider when buying or selling a home is to know how big it is. Although a priori it is a simple matter, it is not so simple, since often we do not know the difference between useful and built square metres, and therefore their dimensions.
Knowing how to measure a property correctly is very important, since it will allow us to know the sale price of the house and, therefore, set a price according to its dimensions. Below we will analyze the difference between useful and built square meters, based on which the price of a property is stipulated, and what must be taken into account when measuring a house.
What are the square meters built?
The square meters built, or the built area, refers to the total square meters; that is, they cover all parts of the house that have undergone construction, even though they cannot be used. They include, in addition to the surface that we can use:
- building structure (that is: walls, partitions, electrical installations, ventilation ducts, pipes, drains, etc.).
- The common areas of the building (that is: stairs, entrance, corridors, patios, gardens, swimming pools, etc.).
Therefore, the square meters built cannot be used. However, we must bear in mind that The constructed area is the one that serves as the basis for knowing the price of a home.
We must not forget that, despite the fact that all the dwellings in a building have the same dimensions, their constructed area will not be the same, since each property has a different coefficient of participation in the common areas in the communities.
Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate between:
- The constructed surface in the common elements of the building.
- The constructed area within the perimeter of the house.
The value of a property will be measured, therefore, taking into account all the square meters built within the perimeter of the house. and the built square meters proportional to the coefficient of participation of the property in the common areas.
It should be clarified that, in case of sharing a wall with a neighbor, the calculation of the built square meters that it occupies will be divided by two; that is to say, each owner will have the constructed area that occupies half of the wall. Likewise, it should be noted that the surface of the mezzanines or basements for private use whose surface is less than 1.5 meters will not be taken into account as built surface.
What are useful square meters?
The useful square meters, or the useful area, is the one that refers to only to the square meters that are used; that can be stepped on. Therefore, the total square meters are excluded and, with them, the space occupied by the walls, partitions, electrical installations, ventilation ducts, pipes, drains, etc., which, although they are part of the house, are not physically used. In day to day.
So, put another way, The useful area of a dwelling is that space that is available to inhabit. This includes closets, and common terraces, balconies or patios for private use, only if they are closed, which will be calculated as useful meters, and if they are open they will be computed only by 50%. That is to say, If we have a terrace of 20 square meters and it is uncovered, it will only compute as if it measured 10 square meters, while if it is covered it will be counted in its entirety.
It should be noted that there is an exception to the normal that we have just analyzed. In officially protected housing (VPO), the surface of a terrace can only be computed at 10%; that is, if it has 20 square meters, it will only compute as if it measured 2 square meters.
As we have seen, knowing the size of a home is of vital importance, not only to know its value but in other areas, such as when requesting a quote to renovate the house, take out home insurance or change the electrical power.
For this, it is important to resort to professionals who help us measure our home accurately and, thus, set a fair price for it.
Juan Rosado
CEO
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