Laser measurement tools

[ncadigan]

I'm in the market for a new measuring devise since mine recently broke. I'm a little tired of smart-aleck homeowners telling me I should get a laser as I always prefered the good old fashion tape. Does anyone have a recommendation as to which lasers are trustworthy or arguments on why I should avoid them?

Thanks!

 

[SmilingDog]

Hands down... get the Disto Classic. It will take you a couple of jobs to get used to it, but it will reduce your time by 80%. You can also easily measure inside condos, crowded garage spaces, or from inside when the weather is bad...

tape? what's that? jk

I've used a Disto for about 8 years now.

 

[LI-Appr]

hey smiling
how much does it cost I still like the old fashion way but then again I am 59 years old LOL

 

[Hank Outlaw]

I'm still measuring the old way... 100' fiberglass tape, and interested in joining the ranks of those in the 20th century.

I've seen a couple of appraisals by others, provided by homeowners when I went out to appraise their home, and found discrepancies on measurements on 2 or 3 [prior] appraisals by others vs. my tape measurements. I have no idea how they measured, but I suspect a laser device, which makes me leery of using one, as I can't imagine how someone else could measure the same wall I did and be off more than 1/2 a foot, sometimes 2-3 feet!

Does anyone have any knowledge of errors in measuring devices such as the Disto? I trust what I can see vs. shooting a target with a red dot, but I'm willing to give it a try. And I realize that even a 100' tape (and the user) is not always perfect.

Hank O.

 

[LI-Appr]

I had an appraiser a couple of years back using a blue tooth laser. Got me stipped for about 200 sq feet
I went there and remeasured it. If it was the user or device Who knows.

 

[Lloyd Bonafide]

I've seen a couple of appraisals by others, provided by homeowners when I went out to appraise their home, and found discrepancies on measurements on 2 or 3 [prior] appraisals by others vs. my tape measurements. I have no idea how they measured, but I suspect a laser device, which makes me leery of using one, as I can't imagine how someone else could measure the same wall I did and be off more than 1/2 a foot, sometimes 2-3 feet!

I don't think that's a Disto - seeing prior sketches with measurements off by 2 or 3 feet has always been common, way before Distos were invented. That's just plain stupidity or incompetence.

I'll never forget a sketch I saw about 10 years ago that said the house was 26 feet wide. But the lot was only 24 feet wide.

Distos are accurate within 1/100 of a foot, or something like that.

 

[JRS at OBX]

Hank, next time I'm headed through your area I'll bring my disto and we can go measure a house. I think you'll like it.

 

[Em Tee]

Hands down... get the Disto Classic. It will take you a couple of jobs to get used to it, but it will reduce your time by 80%. You can also easily measure inside condos, crowded garage spaces, or from inside when the weather is bad...

tape? what's that? jk

I've used a Disto for about 8 years now.

Ditto. Also remember, any measuring device is only as good as the user.

 

[LI-Appr]

Smiling
What model # do you use. I see alot of different ones online ranging $149 to $800

 

[Lloyd Bonafide]

There are plenty of opinions, but the Disto D5 with the camera viewfinder is the best for me, because it is effective even in bright sunlight.

http://appraisersforum.com/showthread.php?t=153717