What should be remembered when measuring the square footage of stairs?

When measuring the square footage of stairs, it is important to include the square footage of the first and second floors, especially in a real estate context. This is because the total square footage often reflects the usable space within the structure, which encompasses both the areas of the stairs and the spaces they connect.

Stairs not only serve as a functional element to access different levels of a building but also contribute to the overall connectivity of the spaces. Therefore, including the square footage of the floors connected by those stairs gives a more accurate representation of the property’s total area. This comprehensive approach ensures that potential buyers or appraisers see the full scale of the usable space in the property.

In contrast, focusing solely on the stairs or counting just the land area without considering the connected floors would provide an incomplete view of the property's total dimensions, which is not useful for assessment or valuation purposes. Moreover, measuring only the area occupied by handrails does not contribute to understanding the usable space effectively.