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Cubi Casa - Now It Is Pretty Damn Good

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OK. I have had to change my mind on this - partially.

1. It took five days and some prodding to get a CAD download that actually had the DWG CAD files in it!! -- But then the DWG files lacked measurements. All measurement fields were "VARIES". So, after another day and a half, they got back with this message:

"Hi,
Thank you for your patience.
The production team has informed that "This order CAD file still works normally. This is a video tutorial on taking measurements for Autocad files. Currently, our CAD format does not have dimension measurements."
At this time, dimensions and square footage totals cannot be displayed for our 3D products.
I apologize for any inconvenience may caused.
If you need further assistance please let us know.
Regards,
Trinh".


So, basically, they send you a CAD file and you have to go and add all of your own measurements - a tedious process.

2. Anyway, the real advantage of Cubi CASA, is that I can go through the house with the iPhone and get video and essentially photos that will give me the sketch of the room outlay. That actually makes it a lot easier to do a floor plan in a complex home. With Home Designer Pro, you can quickly lay out the walls and rooms and then add the measurements. You have an approximate set of measurements via Cubi Casa to back up your own measurements, in case you miss something. The CAD drawing doesn't do me much good if I have to enter the measurements. I might as well just draw my own floor plan and enter the measurements at the same time.

3. Would I pay $50 extra for the CAD? No. Would I pay extra for the doll house view? Maybe - just as additional documentation. Would I pay for the walk-through video? - No, not as an appraiser.

Conclusion: I will use it:

1) To save time and hassle.
2) As a backup and safety net, especially in complex homes.
3) You don't have to be accurate on interior room dimensions for ANSI, except for the garage and dead areas. So, take the necessary external measurements and garage yourself. Then use Cubie Casa for approximate measurements on other rooms to save time.

====
It appears from the way they are doing things, that they are using cheap overseas labor to manually draw the CAD files - without measurements --> because they really cannot provide accurate measurements. In any case, I am sure they will eventually automate everything. It would likely be a matter of years though.

=== AND AND AND ====

Tech support told me that they don't recommend using Cubi Casa for appraisal!!!!

(Well you can use it -- just do your own measurements for ANSI Z65 calculations.)
 
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RCA said:
OK. I have had to change my mind on this - partially.

1. It took five days and some prodding to get a CAD download that actually had the DWG CAD files in it!! -- But then the DWG files lacked measurements. All measurement fields were "VARIES". So, after another day and a half, they got back with this message:

"Hi,
Thank you for your patience.
The production team has informed that "This order CAD file still works normally. This is a video tutorial on taking measurements for Autocad files. Currently, our CAD format does not have dimension measurements."
At this time, dimensions and square footage totals cannot be displayed for our 3D products.
I apologize for any inconvenience may caused.
If you need further assistance please let us know.
Regards,
Trinh".


So, basically, they send you a CAD file and you have to go and add all of your own measurements - a tedious process.

2. Anyway, the real advantage of Cubi CASA, is that I can go through the house with the iPhone and get video and essentially photos that will give me the sketch of the room outlay. That actually makes it a lot easier to do a floor plan in a complex home. With Home Designer Pro, you can quickly lay out the walls and rooms and then add the measurements. You have an approximate set of measurements via Cubi Casa to back up your own measurements, in case you miss something. The CAD drawing doesn't do me much good if I have to enter the measurements. I might as well just draw my own floor plan and enter the measurements at the same time.

3. Would I pay $50 extra for the CAD? No. Would I pay extra for the doll house view? Maybe - just as additional documentation. Would I pay for the walk-through video? - No, not as an appraiser.

Conclusion: I will use it:

1) To save time and hassle.
2) As a backup and safety net, especially in complex homes.
3) You don't have to be accurate on interior room dimensions for ANSI, except for the garage and dead areas. So, take the necessary external measurements and garage yourself. Then use Cubie Casa for approximate measurements on other rooms to save time.

====
It appears from the way they are doing things, that they are using cheap overseas labor to manually draw the CAD files - without measurements --> because they really cannot provide accurate measurements. In any case, I am sure they will eventually automate everything. It would likely be a matter of years though.

=== AND AND AND ====

Tech support told me that they don't recommend using Cubi Casa for appraisal!!!!

(Well you can use it -- just do your own measurements for ANSI Z65 calculations.)
Click to expand...
Has anyone told Fannie and Freddie it's not recommended for appraisal? I wonder.
 
Tiffany Gibbons said:
Has anyone told Fannie and Freddie it's not recommended for appraisal? I wonder.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, neither Fannie Mae nor Freddie Mac have stated that Cubi Casa measurements are regarded as accurate by ANSI standards.

So, you could use a Cubi Casa floorplan and their measurements, I am sure, - but have to take responsibility for their accuracy. Cubi Casa floorplan measurements could by chance be accurate. In any case ANSI Z765 compliance is CLEARLY required and the responsibility of the appraiser.

Also note, Fannie and Freddie are very self-centered and their primary goal is certainly not to help appraisers. They would rather have Cubi Casa than the worst crap they get (which is just that), even though accepting Cubi Casa floorplans that clearly do not comply with ANSI Z765 is a contradiction in their requirements. So, to be clear, Freddie and Fannie require ANSI Z765 compliance, although they may say (or indicate) via their employees like DW that they accept Cubi Casa floorplans. But if problems ever arise - it will be the fault of the appraiser who is clearly required to report measurements according to the ANSI standard.

You could also overwrite the Cubi Casa floorplan with your own measurements. If you did that, the Cubi Casa would nonetheless save you the time of drawing the floorplan.
 
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People will rarely be walking around with steel tapes and clothe tapes in another 5 years . Cubi Casa type
of measuring is the future. My walls are 4" inches thick on each end with stucco and wood siding. I measured interior and just added the 4" inches to each length and it was spot on.

Using a cloth tape it over measures it by about 50-70 Square feet and the biggest problem with ANZI is most are not deducting for thickness of siding and stucco etc.

Our Building departments use GLA from "architects" floor plan and drawings of the unfinished wood or steel Frames The same with our assessors, Anyways this is the future :)
 
Better check your old disto's -My 10 year old one with fresh batteries is off by 3 inches or more on a 30 foot length. I checked it 10 different ways and yes it's off. Now I always wonder how many old appraisers are wandering around with "malfunctioning - uncalibrated disto's. Hell the old guys/gals on the VA Panel around here look like a graveyard of old guys using distos that are 20 plus years old, and cloth tapes that are stretched by 2" inches and hell throw in a old rusty steel tape just for laughs. And we have all these village idiots talking about ANZI is so accurate :)
 
1699133105744.jpeg
Estate Sale -- A 65 year old over weight VA appraiser who died while measuring a house- This and his beloved 35 year old disto and a free bonus being a rusty steel tape measure all for only $99.00.

Please no pay pal one must pick up these treasures in person and pay cash. Just ask for Ethel his widow. She also has some used 50 year old Motorola Police Radios they used instead of cell phones and a 3.1 Windows computer and dot matrix printer with extra ribbons and tractor feed paper.

This is a great opportunity for a new Parea student or even a seasoned older professional appraiser to get back to doing things the old fashioned way. No Cuba Casita Crap used by this appraiser- RIP "Bob"
 
  • Haha
Reactions: DTB
OSU Beavers said:
Brick or stone veneer throws ANSI off by 3/10 to 1/2 a foot.
Click to expand...

It is not clear what you mean. ANSI is ANSI. Do you mean it throws off Cubi Casa? If using Cubi Casa, you should always measure the exterior and interior wall thickness in inches and upload that in the comments with your Cubi Casa order. Make yourself a large caliper using a large clamp or some such thing - that does around the door trim - so you can quickly measure wall thickness. Or get a cheap caliper and do some math.
 
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