Ask An Expert

Hi Mike,

Given that you’re dealing with an insurance claim, we’d recommend that you speak with your adjuster regarding the discrepancy for your home’s square footage and get their recommendations. You may want to start with a licensed surveyor since you already have a relationship there, or a certified appraiser, as their measurements tend to carry the most weight with insurance companies. Make sure whoever you hire provides a written report with their methodology and credentials clearly stated.

The significant discrepancy between the insurance estimate (1,533 sq ft), public records, permits, and your belief (1,850 sq ft) could meaningfully impact your claim settlement, so getting professional verification is likely worth the cost.

For determining the actual square footage of your home in California, you have several professional options:

Licensed Surveyor Since you already have a survey that locates the house, the surveyor who did that work (or another licensed land surveyor) can measure and calculate the exact square footage. They provide legally defensible measurements that insurance companies typically accept.

Licensed Appraiser Real estate appraisers are trained to measure homes according to standardized methods (like ANSI guidelines). They can provide a detailed floor plan with square footage calculations that carry professional credibility.

Architect A licensed architect can measure your home and create accurate as-built drawings showing the true square footage. This is especially valuable if you’re dealing with complex layouts or additions.

Building Inspector/Code Official Your local building department may be able to help verify square footage, especially since there’s a 1956 permit on file. They might have additional records or be able to recommend approved professionals.

To resolve discrepancies between county records and permit square footage you may want to contact:

County Assessor’s Office This is your primary contact. They maintain the property records used for tax assessment and can explain how they calculated the square footage. They can also tell you their process for correcting records if an error is found.

Local Building Department/Permit Office Contact the jurisdiction that issued the 1956 permit (city or county building department). They maintain permit files and can help you understand what the original permit actually covered versus what may have been built.

County Recorder’s Office They may have additional historical documents, surveys, or recorded plans that could help establish the correct square footage.

Start with the Assessor’s Office since they’re responsible for the current records. Bring:

-Copy of the 1956 permit showing 1,768 sq ft;

-Your survey;

-Any other documentation you have

You should ask them:

-How they determined the current 1,633 sq ft figure

-What documentation they used

-Their process for appealing/correcting assessment records

-Whether they need a professional measurement to make corrections

If there’s been an addition, modification, or if the original assessment was wrong, you may need to provide professional measurements (from a surveyor, appraiser, or architect) to get the records corrected.

Keep in mind that correcting the square footage could affect your property taxes, so understand the implications before proceeding.

Good luck, UP Staff