Do Enclosed Patios Add Living Area?

Can I count my enclosed patio in the square footage of my home?

I have an enclose patio and was wondering if adding it to the total square footage of my home will make a difference in the real estate appraisal I get of my home. I am about to list my home for sale and while my agent opted not to add it to the total area, my seller suggested that I do. Note that tax records do not reflect the extra square footage, but adding 400 sq ft to the listing could make a difference, right?

Answer:

Typically, enclosed patio spaces are not included in the square footage of houses, save for cases where the patio actually looks like a part of the home as opposed to an extension of the property. In most cases however, it’s the quality of the patio that is called into question. Usually, enclosed patios feel like a very separate part of the house, normally don’t have a heat source (which is required for spaces to be counted in the overall square footage), and will likely have been built with lower quality than the rest of the property.

If you’re thinking of selling, think of it instead as an added plus for homebuyers. Once they walk in your home and see the enclosed space, allow them to get pleasantly surprised at the additional space that they have. Realistically, a potential client will view the house and see a nice, enclosed patio, instead of noting the 400 additional square feet.

On the other hand, if the enclosed patio offers heating and is beautifully designed to seamlessly integrate with the rest of the house, then by all means, add it as part of the entire home’s square footage.

Based on experience however, this just isn’t the case. For the most part, enclosed patios are nothing more than, well, enclosed patios, which can hardly be considered as living spaces. In this case, they will not really add much to the appraised value. They will however, come as a pleasant surprise for anyone viewing the property.

In any case, there are also different rules to consider regarding this—so be sure to do your research as the local rules might be different for your specific neighbourhood as well.