Bought a Home with Incorrect SQ Footage
Hello all! I will try to make this as short as possible. I bought a home at 24 years old, I loved the home then and still do. However, after looking over the tax assessor's page this year I noticed that the square footage was not the same as when the home was listed, nor the "accurate square footage" I am not sure how I missed this, it could have been me being insanely busy during the home-buying process or just a young, dumb 24 year old who didn't know what they were doing (probably a bit of both to be fair lol) Anyways!
The listing said the home was 972 finished sq ft at $170 per sq footage
The appraisal said the home is 851 finished sq ft, as does the tax assessor's page
The home is actually only 672 sq ft of GLA (Gross Livable Area)
Turns out the listing agent added both the unheated sunroom (no permanent heating) and the basement room below the sunroom (again unheated and also below-grade) The appraiser also included the unheated sunroom, but not the basement room. Regardless, I thought only heated rooms, that are above grade count towards GLA.
I feel like I was very much screwed over, when I go to sell I am very, very worried about taking a loss due to the listing agents lies and appraisers' incompetence.
I am wanting to hire a real estate attorney to type up a demand letter for negligent or intentional misrepresentation. I am wanting to demand a $15,000 cash settlement, if they don't settle, I plan on telling them I will immediately file a formal complaint for fraud with the state licensing board. Am I likely to win a settlement, if anyone has any insight please let me know! The difference between 851 sq ft and 672 sq ft is a massive 31% discrepancy; an even larger discrepancy if you base it off the listing agents "972 sq ft"
If you made it this far, thank you and if you have any insight please again do help out! Ya girl is stressed. Oh also, I bought the home 2 years ago for reference!