Humber/Ontario Real Estate Course 4 Exam Practice

Which of the following would NOT be included when measuring the total living area of a residential home?

1. A playroom over an attached garage in a two-storey home

2. A fully finished basement including a third bedroom and recreation room

3. A second-floor bedroom converted to an exercise room in an existing two-storey home

4. A main level kitchen that has been fully renovated during the past year

The correct answer is: A fully finished basement including a third bedroom and recreation room

The total living area of a residential home is typically defined as all spaces that are livable and not considered uninhabitable or unfinished. The most common exclusion from this measurement is the basement, especially if it doesn’t meet specific criteria, such as being fully finished or having sufficient ceiling height. In the context of the options presented, the fully finished basement, which includes additional living spaces such as a third bedroom and a recreation room, may still be under scrutiny depending on local guidelines. However, it is generally included in the measurement of total living area if it is fully finished and meets the required standards for living space. Playrooms, converted bedrooms, and renovated kitchens are all parts of the main living area, contributing to the total square footage that can be counted toward the living area of the home. Hence, the finished basement, which is typically the largest area among the options provided but often excluded by certain measurement definitions, reflects a space that has been utilized for living purposes. This reveals that the given answer could confuse context with generally accepted practices in real estate, where the basement is often a point of contention regarding what constitutes livable space versus what is categorized as part of the living area in real estate transactions.