Imagine you’ve found the perfect apartment online – spacious 2-bedroom advertised at a very tempting price per square foot. But during the viewing, something feels…off. The rooms seem smaller than you envisioned. Confronted, the realtor assures you the advertised size is accurate. So, what’s the missing piece?
The answer lies in understanding two crucial terms in apartment measurement: carpet area and super built-up area. While both represent size, they paint a very different picture of the actual usable space you’ll be getting. Don’t get caught off guard! This blog post will equip you to decipher these terms and make informed decisions when choosing your dream apartment.
Introduction to Carpet Area & Super Built-Up Area
Carpet Area
When we talk about carpet area, we’re referring to the actual space inside the walls of a property that you can use. It’s where you can place your furniture and go about your daily activities. Carpet area doesn’t include shared areas, walls, or other structural elements. For buyers, this is the most crucial measurement as it shows the real living space they’ll have in the property.
Benefits:
- Accurate Representation: Carpet area provides a precise measurement of the actual usable space within a property, giving buyers a clear understanding of the living area they’ll have.
- Fair Comparison: Since carpet area excludes common areas and structural components, it allows for fair comparisons between different properties based on their actual living space.
- Cost Efficiency: Buyers can assess the value proposition of a property accurately, ensuring they pay for the usable area they’re getting without any unnecessary additions.
Super Built-Up Area
Now, let’s discuss the super built-up area, also known as the saleable area or built-up area. This measurement includes the carpet area plus a portion of the common areas. Common areas encompass corridors, lobbies, staircases, lifts, amenities, and other communal facilities found in a building or housing complex.
Benefits:
- Inclusive Measurement: Super built-up area includes not only the carpet area but also a portion of common areas, providing buyers with a comprehensive view of the entire property.
- Consideration of Amenities: Including common areas in the measurement allows buyers to factor in amenities such as corridors, lobbies, and recreational facilities, enhancing the overall value proposition of the property.
- Understanding Total Investment: By considering the super built-up area, buyers can understand the total investment they’re making, including both the usable living space and shared amenities, ensuring they’re getting value for their money.
Calculation Methods
The methods used to calculate carpet area and super built-up area are different. Carpet area is determined by measuring the internal dimensions of a property, excluding walls, balconies, and other non-usable spaces. On the contrary, the super built-up area is calculated by adding a markup percentage to the carpet area, which accounts for the proportionate share of common areas.
Calculation of Carpet Area
To determine the carpet area of a property, you can utilize the following equation:
Carpet Area = Area of bedrooms + Living room + Balconies + Bathrooms – Thickness of internal walls
This formula enables you to ascertain the actual usable space within the property while excluding the area occupied by walls.
How to Compute Super Built-Up Area?
The super built-up area encompasses the carpet area in addition to supplementary elements such as terraces, balconies, wall-occupied spaces, and communal structures like elevators and staircases. Some developers may also incorporate amenities such as pools and clubhouses. The formula for calculating the super built-up area is as follows:
Super Built-up Area = Built-up Area + Common Areas (stairs, lobbies, lifts, pool, etc.)
Alternatively, it can be determined as:
Super Built-up Area = Carpet Area × (1 + Loading Factor)
Understanding the Loading Factor
The loading factor acts as a multiplier utilized to determine the super built-up area from the carpet area. It signifies the additional space incorporated into the property for communal areas and amenities. Typically, a loading factor of 1.30 is considered standard within the real estate sector.
Formula for Loading Factor Calculation
To calculate the loading factor, use the following formula:
Loading Factor = (Super Built-up Area ÷ Carpet Area) – 1
For instance, if the loading factor is 1.4, it means the developer has augmented the carpet area by 40%. So, if the carpet area is 1000 square feet, the super built-up area would be 1400 square feet.
Understanding these computations is crucial for property buyers to ascertain the actual usable space within a property and to accurately compare property prices, particularly concerning the meaning and calculation of super built-up area.
Utilization and Implications
Carpet areas and super built-up areas hold varying implications for buyers. The carpet area significantly influences the livability and functionality of a property as it denotes the actual living space available. Thus, buyers should prioritize assessing the carpet area when evaluating the size and layout of a property.
On the other hand, the super built-up area, though larger than the carpet area, encompasses common areas and often serves as the basis for pricing and cost allocation. It influences the selling price, property tax rates, and maintenance charges. Buyers should be mindful that the super built-up area may include spaces they do not have exclusive access to.
Transparency and Documentation
A challenge for buyers lies in the lack of standardized measurement terminologies across the real estate industry. It is imperative for developers and sellers to disclose the carpet area, super built-up area, and other relevant specifications in the sales documentation. Buyers must review the legal documents and floor plans to ensure transparency and accuracy in the declared measurements.
Final Thoughts
Distinguishing between carpet area and super built-up area is vital for buyers to make informed decisions in real estate transactions. While the carpet area represents the actual usable space within the property walls, the super built-up area includes the carpet area along with a proportionate share of common areas. Buyers should prioritize evaluating the carpet area for its direct impact on the property’s livability and functionality. However, comprehending the super built-up area is also crucial for pricing, cost allocation, and understanding the shared facilities available.