It is extremely beneficial for Indian homebuyers to understand the concept of space measurement. This Guide to Carpet Area, Built-Up Area, and Super Built-Up Area is written for the everyday consumer to understand these three methods of measuring area and will reduce the confusion that generally accompanies this type of measurement.
When purchasing a home, many first-time buyers tend to place the highest importance on location and price, and later learn that the method of measuring area directly influences their home’s value, comfort, and long-term satisfaction. As such, for Buyers considering premium developments with Srijan Realty, this is even more critical.
Why Area Definitions Matter in India
In Indian cities, apartments are priced on a per-square-foot basis; however, not all square feet are necessarily usable. The way that people live in a space will vary based on their geographic location, their lifestyle, and the way they are raising their families.
For example, a balcony may be viewed as an essential component of a home for ventilation purposes in Kolkata, where harsh weather is a concern; however, in other parts of the world (such as the USA), it is not uncommon for a buyer to desire thick cracks in their walls for sound control and humidity reasons. Also, being aware of the distinctions between carpet area, built-up area, super built-up area, and built area can assist a buyer in making a fair comparison of their prospective home(s) and may help prevent surprises after they have taken possession of a new home.
1. Carpet Area
Carpet Area is now the most relevant word for buyers.
Definition: defined by RERA as a measure of the actual usable area of the floor inside the apartment.
Includes: all bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathrooms, internal passageways, and utility areas.
Excludes: the thickness of both internal and external walls, balconies, verandas, and all types of common areas (lobbies, corridors) etc.
Carpet area is simply the area available for placing furniture and moving around freely. RERA also requires developers to sell using the carpet area as a basis for pricing, allowing for more transparency. From local projects, buyers will begin to see that while two units may be priced similarly, they will feel considerably different when compared by carpet area.
2. Built-Up Area
Built-up area allows for a small expansion of the definition of measurement.
Definition: Carpet area, plus the addition of the thickness of both internal and external walls, plus the addition of balconies or terraces.
Includes: Carpet area, walls, balconies, and any utility projections.
Excludes: Shared spaces (lifts, lobbies, staircases, and corridors).
Generally, the built-up area is somewhere between 10%-20% larger than the carpet area. Built-Up Area tends to be used frequently in sales brochures because it sounds larger, but in practice, the area does not represent the usable living space. Buyers who have experience will look at the built-up area as being a helpful bit of information, but they will not allow the built-up area to dictate their decision.
3. Super built-up area or saleable area
Confusion regarding the terminology super built-up area often begins here.
Definition: Super built-up area = built-up area + proportionate share of common areas.
Includes: Built-up area plus a proportionate share of common areas such as corridors, staircases, lift lobbies, elevator shafts, entrance lobbies, security or guard rooms, and shared amenities available to occupants, for example, gyms, walking tracks, and rooftop gardens.
Excludes: Nothing. This is the total area for which a buyer will pay.
The super built area is used as a basis for calculating the sale price of a unit based on the loading ratio, generally 1.25x to 1.5x of the carpet area. Prior to the establishment of RERA, builders were able to advertise price per square foot at a lower value, thereby inflating the overall price of the unit that would be based on super built-up area.
Making Real Estate More Transparent for Buyers
The introduction of RERA has changed how developers sell property in India. All sales must take place based on the carpet area of a property rather than the super built-up area of a property. This creates a level of transparency between a buyer and the builder as well as between buyers, and makes it far simpler to compare other projects and properties that may have a similar construction type to one another.
For buyers who are looking to purchase a home within a planned community developed by Srijan Realty, for example, this RERA regulation gives them greater confidence in their purchasing decisions. They will have confidence that they will pay a fair price for the amount of space that they will occupy on a daily basis.
How buyers should compare homes realistically
Realistically compare homes as a buyer by considering not just the price but also the distribution of the area (built-up area and super built area). Examine how efficiently the built area and carpet area have been planned (i.e., whether or not there are awkward or inefficient angles). Compare the size of balconies and the thickness of walls in order to determine if those features would work well in relation to the climate. Furthermore, a buyer should understand the loading factor that is used to calculate the total amount of super built-up area, as well as what common amenities are included in that factor.
On the other hand, a buyer must also understand that a well-designed home, even though it might not have numbers that indicate a lot of space, can feel larger than it actually is due to the way that the home has been laid out and how much light, ventilation, and circulation are present.
Common misconceptions to avoid
Avoid these common misconceptions as a buyer: The assumption that the more super built-up area, the better the value; the assumption that unethical or dishonest agents will charge extra to obtain balance payment after moving into a home; and, lastly, the assumption that a buyer will not need any of these things (with the exception of common areas) until moving in.
Understanding the above factors will help buyers not only with the purchase of their homes but also through the resale process, and provide them with great insight into future rental valuation and planning on their part.
Conclusion
The purchase of a home is a long-term commitment that generally revolves around daily living experience rather than simply numeric figures on a piece of paper. To ease the decision-making process and allow buyers to make more informed decisions, it would help the buyers to spend some time understanding how the definition of space relates to their own habits of use.
For those who are considering purchasing in a thoughtfully developed community, it is best to consult with an experienced, knowledgeable real estate professional who is based in India before taking any additional steps toward making their purchase decision.
FAQs
Is carpet area applicable under RERA?
Yes, RERA requires that developers sell and quote properties based only upon carpet area in order to ensure complete transparency.
Why is it important to mention the super built-up area?
Super built-up area indicates the manner in which a property shares common amenities and how the total cost of the property is calculated.
Does a higher loading factor always represent a disadvantage?
Not necessarily. If common amenities are maintained and continue to provide utility, some buyers may find value in having a higher loading factor.
When comparing projects, what areas should I examine?
Start by comparing the carpet area, then review the built-up area, and finally review the super built-up area.
