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LiDAR and 3D tours can help agents back up listing square footage
The article says regulators are increasingly scrutinizing inaccurate square footage and AI edited photos, with some disciplinary fines reaching into the thousands of dollars.
HousingWire highlights two recurring real estate marketing risk areas, inaccurate square footage and listing photographs that are altered using AI.
It argues that more objective property capture, including LiDAR scanning, floor plans, and 3D tours, can help agents support the measurements in online listings and reduce the chance of misleading buyers.
The outlet notes that square footage often comes from local tax assessor records or is carried forward from prior MLS listings, and it says errors can persist when properties have additions, finished basements, or renovations that may not be reflected in tax data.
HousingWire also points to enforcement tightening, citing discipline decisions in Ontario in spring 2026 involving agents who did not independently verify lot size and square footage before advertising it, with fines running into the thousands of dollars and mandatory continuing education. It adds that measuring every time and understanding local measurement standards, such as ANSI Z765, are suggested best practices, with LiDAR-based scanning positioned as a way to improve accuracy in complex rooms.