diff --git a/backend/src/routes/properties.js b/backend/src/routes/properties.js
index 44ce1e9..0099609 100644
--- a/backend/src/routes/properties.js
+++ b/backend/src/routes/properties.js
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@ const router = express.Router();
 
 // Helper function to calculate polygon area (in square feet)
 const calculatePolygonArea = (coordinates) => {
-  if (!coordinates || coordinates.length < 3) return 0;
+  if (!coordinates || coordinates.length < 3) {
+    console.log('Invalid coordinates for area calculation:', coordinates);
+    return 0;
+  }
+  
+  console.log('Calculating area for coordinates:', coordinates);
   
   // Shoelace formula for polygon area
   let area = 0;
@@ -21,14 +26,26 @@ const calculatePolygonArea = (coordinates) => {
   }
   
   area = Math.abs(area) / 2;
+  console.log('Raw shoelace area (in deg²):', area);
   
-  // Convert from decimal degrees to square feet (approximate)
-  // This is a rough approximation - in production you'd use proper geodesic calculations
+  // Convert from decimal degrees to square feet
+  // Assuming coordinates are [longitude, latitude] (GeoJSON standard)
   const avgLat = coordinates.reduce((sum, coord) => sum + coord[1], 0) / n;
-  const meterToFeet = 3.28084;
-  const degToMeter = 111320 * Math.cos(avgLat * Math.PI / 180);
+  console.log('Average latitude:', avgLat);
   
-  return area * Math.pow(degToMeter * meterToFeet, 2);
+  // More accurate conversion using Haversine-based approach
+  const latInRadians = avgLat * Math.PI / 180;
+  const metersPerDegreeLat = 111320; // meters per degree latitude (constant)
+  const metersPerDegreeLng = 111320 * Math.cos(latInRadians); // meters per degree longitude (varies with latitude)
+  
+  // Convert to square meters, then to square feet
+  const areaInSquareMeters = area * metersPerDegreeLat * metersPerDegreeLng;
+  const areaInSquareFeet = areaInSquareMeters * 10.7639; // 1 m² = 10.7639 ft²
+  
+  console.log('Area in square meters:', areaInSquareMeters);
+  console.log('Area in square feet:', areaInSquareFeet);
+  
+  return areaInSquareFeet;
 };
 
 // @route   GET /api/properties
@@ -273,7 +290,10 @@ router.post('/:id/sections', validateParams(idParamSchema), validateRequest(lawn
     // Calculate area from polygon if provided
     let calculatedArea = area;
     if (polygonData && polygonData.coordinates && polygonData.coordinates[0]) {
+      console.log('Original polygon data:', JSON.stringify(polygonData, null, 2));
+      console.log('Coordinates for calculation:', polygonData.coordinates[0]);
       calculatedArea = calculatePolygonArea(polygonData.coordinates[0]);
+      console.log('Calculated area:', calculatedArea);
     }
 
     const result = await pool.query(