Square Footage Field Changes Coming
Update May 6, 2026:
The square footage field updates originally set for May 6 have been delayed. Flexmls encountered backend issues related to legacy fields during final testing and was required to resubmit our certification application. This process is expected to take over a week.
We now anticipate a mid-May launch, but that timeline may shift. We’ll provide advance notice before the changes go into effect so you have time to prepare.
Accurate square footage is essential for property listings, and beginning Tuesday, May 6, enhancements are coming to how square footage is entered and displayed in the MLS. These changes, MichRIC wide, aim to give listing agents more control and ensure better accuracy—especially for complex property layouts.
What’s New?
Three new required fields will appear on the Main Fields tab during listing input:
- Building Total SqFt – Includes both finished and unfinished space across the entire structure.
- Below Grade Finished SqFt
- Below Grade Unfinished SqFt
These additions offer a clearer picture of how square footage is distributed, especially in homes with finished basements or mixed-use levels.
What’s Changing?
- Total Finished SqFt All Levels and Total SqFt Above Grade will remain as fields, but they will no longer be automatically calculated based on level-by-level square footage inputs.
- These fields will now need to be manually entered by the listing agent.
- We (MichRIC) will attempt to auto-populate these values using Realist data when available, but this cannot be guaranteed for all listings.
Why Manual Entry?
Previously, the system calculated above-grade square footage by summing the Main and Upper Level fields. However, this method often missed square footage from partially above-grade lower levels—such as those found in bi-levels or tri-level homes. It also failed when listings entered through data share lacked detailed level-by-level entries.
By switching to manual input, agents gain the flexibility to report square footage more accurately and avoid errors caused by system limitations. Level-by-level square footage entries will still be required to maintain detailed reporting standards.
What’s Not Changing?
All square footage by level will remain required. The Total Beds and Total Baths fields will continue to be calculated automatically and are not affected by this update.
