How Accurate Are Estate Agents Measurements?

[Jenarry]

We are in the process of buying a house.
I have put faith in the estate agents measurements being accurate and I have pretty analysed them against our current house to see where we gain and lose space.
My hubby is a floor layer and his experience in the past (not very recently)is that their measurements are hardly ever right.
Is this right ?. Surely it's a description of something they are selling to you so it must be accurate.

[Peter Pedant]

they use a lazer tape measure now

but I wouldnt expect any to accurate to more than 10%

I mean you are gonna see the house, innit ?
and I cant think it is a deal breaker

[Cloverjo]

I don't know, but perhaps the estate agents figures are approximations. You don't need accuracy to the last millimetre when thinking about which house to buy, but you do when fitting floor covering.

[ladybirder]

Jenarry, better safe than sorry so get your husband to go and measure it himself.

[Old_Geezer]

I suspect rough & ready.

Not had one measure any place of mine for decades now, but when I last did it was a quick pull of the tape and the rough measurement noted. No attempt to be that accurate. I'd guess to the nearest 6" to be honest.

You are going to go see it before you buy anyway.

[VHG]

Note the measurements may be MAXIMUM measurements for a room.

It may include alcoves and other areas which are not really part of the room.

[Canary42]

They are unreliable IME - and you will usually find a disclaimer in the small print.