Entering square feet on raised ranches

To ensure the correct square footage information is being represented on raised ranch listings, SmartMLS uses both the above grade and below grade sqft information from the property’s field card.

Each town handles square footage a bit differently, so the most accurate way to convey the above and below grade sqft area when entering a listing is to match the sqft fields from the municipal assessor’s field card:

• If the field card categorizes the lower level as finished below grade sqft, that figure must be entered only in the est. heated below grade field.
• If the field card categorizes the lower level as finished above grade sqft, it must be entered only in the est. heated above grade field.

You cannot include the finished lower-level area in both the est. heated above grade and est. heated below grade fields. This will cause the listing to display inaccurate total square footage information.

As part of the Department of Consumer Protection’s mission to protect consumers, we are reminding licensees of the importance of accuracy and transparency in advertising. Marketing that contains misleading or confusing information- whether it is intentional or a mistake- may be considered a violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA).

Sellers who believe there are discrepancies should work with the Assessor of the town in which the property is located to correct the information on record, or use the listing's Comments field to explain why they believe the Assessor's records are incorrect.