Yes. Appraisers measure the home themselves and include a floor-plan sketch in the report, and that measurement is what drives the value. Tax records and old listings are often wrong or miss additions, so the appraiser does not rely on them for living area. The county's figure governs your tax bill; the appraiser's own measurement governs the appraisal. Beyond size, the appraiser weighs lot size (usually pulled from public record), bedroom and bathroom count, and the overall condition of the home. Garage size on its own is a minor factor beyond how many cars it holds. Two practical notes: - If public records understate your home, say a permitted addition never made it into the county file, have the permits and documentation ready. The appraiser's measurement should capture the real footage, and paperwork removes any doubt. - If a report's square footage looks off, question it. The measurement and sketch are in the report precisely so they can be checked, and a meaningful measuring error can move the value. A polite, documented request for reconsideration is reasonable when the numbers do not match the home you actually have.