AIBU - how big is this house? (with floor plan)

[User198446725689]

I might have made a monumentally expensive mistake. I’m moving house. Floor area of current house is 190 square meters not including the separate garage. We want a bigger house.

Floor area of new house is 215 square meters (2323 sq ft). It has an integral double garage. I asked if the garage was included in the square footage and they said no. But that was only a discussion with the sales team - nothing in writing either way.

But when I add up the dimensions of the rooms it seems to be smaller than our current house.

Up until now I’ve been convincing myself that it just feels smaller because there is no furniture in it, because I had the reassurance of the measurements. We move in next month. I’m worried I have made an awful mistake.

So does the stated area include the garage?

YABU = floor area is 215 square meters just for the living area and the garage is separate, not included in that figure

YANBU = floor area is 215 square meters including the garage

Yeah that includes the garage

still pretty big, with or without the garage.

Yes I get about 200ish including garage

You obviously can’t tell for sure from the plans because not all dimensions have been given (although you could prob make an educated and close guess). I can tell you that I have a flat approx 210sq m. 3 beds, massive living spaces. I think, looking at the plans, that yours includes the garage. Sorry.

Did you want a bigger house as in more bedrooms or bigger rooms all over ?

Didn't you see if it was smaller when you viewed it ?

I read that as total sq footage inc the garage.

yes, it did include garage, I approximated but it’s pretty obvious. The integral garage is usually included. Unfortunately you can’t believe anything EAs are saying. Everything should be checked. I’m not sure what you can do because somewhere in the paperwork should be small print about garage being included, check everything, but my hopes are not high, it’s usually tiny unnoticeable print but it’s there.

Nice house but very "top heavy"

It includes the garage as the thick border outline includes it in the drawings. We’ve owned a Cala new build before so know this is how they do they’ve included floor plans.

Convert the garage?

We live in a Lowther and the size given includes the garage. Still feels enormous to us but we moved from a 95sqm house.... we do love the house though, it works really well as a family home.

Ah well, expensive mistake and never believe a salesperson!

It is a lovely house, and the location and layout are much better than what we have just now, even if the size is the same. And it is what it is at this point.

As to not realising when we saw it - it’s bought off-plan. We only had a few minutes in a real one before we bought it, and it was empty.

Can’t convert the garage - it’s the main appeal for DH.

I guess I’m just miffed because DH has spent 6 months dismissing my concerns that it doesn’t feel any bigger than the current house. And in fact I wanted the house one up in the range, which has a separate dining room and where the garage is separate to the house. DH said it was overkill.

I do realise we are lucky to have it, but it is a BIG price increase compared to our current house.

@Improbablecat great to hear you love it! Any tips?

Get an independent snagging report after you've been in for about 6 months. Then present the entire thing to Cala - they will (begrudgingly) sort everything out. There was stuff we wouldn't have picked up or been picky enough to mention as snags, like a few issues with the guttering and all has been fine since.
The heating takes a bit of getting used to - these houses are ridiculously well insulated and we roasted the first winter we were in and put the heating on, having moved from a drafty 1970s semi 😆

Oh that’s great to know. We’ve got a snagging company booked already but good to know they sort it without too much problem.

And yes, it will be so nice to live in a house that’s not draughty!