How to check the Area of your New apartment you are Purchasing?

Now a then we keep on hearing complaints by people who are booking new apartments that the size of the apartment does not seem as large as mentioned in the saleable area given by the developer.

Here is a easy way to calculate the approximate Carpet area of your house:

1)      Generally in India, currently the most commonly used tile size is around 2 feet X 2 feet (600 mm x 600mm) in dimension

      2)      Take the brochure given by the developer in your hand

3)      Standing  in the entrance door, orient the plan given in the brochure as per your standing point

      4)      Count the exact number of tiles in the Living room...

5)      You can measure a typical tile under your feet & confirm the area of one single tile (generally it is 4.0 sq ft)

     6)      Multiply the exact number of counted tiles by this area to get an area

7)      Confirm that the area is more or less matching with the Room dimensions given in the developer’s    brochure

      8)      Now go Room by Room & check each area. Also check area of common passages,
            terraces & also add area of Door Jamb (tiles in the doorway)

9)      Add all areas written by you on the Brochure to get the Total Carpet area of your home

10) Additionally the approximate Built up area (generally on which the per square foot calculation of costing is based) of the house can be calculated by adding another 20% loading of the Carpet area. Generally it is good to ask the developer what is the ratio he has considered for loading of the Built up area versus the Carpet area

There may still be a 5 % to maximum 7% percent variation in case the developers has considered room dimension from un plastered surfaces of wall of rooms, but at least any drastic variation beyond this may easily come to your notice before you book & pay your hard earned money to the developer.
On a safer side, it may still be worthwhile to spend a little & get the area exactly measured through your Architect if more variation is observed & your Developer is unable to explain the reason for it.

Ar. Hrishikesh Ashtekar