Big home truths gap

ESTATE agents could be costing buyers £9billion a year by overestimating the size of 60% of homes.

Laser technology used to analyse their measurements found they are out by an average of 54sq ft for each property – the same as a small bedroom.

And, shockingly, one in eight floor plans is wrong by at least 100sq ft.

Estate agents can get away with these inaccuracies because they are stated as being for “illustrative purposes only”.

Researchers measured more than 300 homes to the nearest millimetre and found that the size of 60% had been overestimated and 40% underestimated.

James Marshall, of scanning company Pupil that conducted the research, said: “Homebuyers are being misled and that is not good enough.”