Stop using inches in your sketch, now.

[Tom D]

America uses inches, not the metric system that was previously rejected..

Following our June 2025 Selling Guide policy changes related to the ANSI^® Z765-2021 standard, we have published an update to our Standardized Property Measuring Guidelines Fact Sheet and FAQ. Policy changes include retirement of our ANSI exception code, alignment of terminology, and requirement to report dimensions in tenths of a foot (rather than inches).

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

It was optional before, but we always used tenths of a foot because our 100 foot tape measures were in tenths since the 1990's. Then Distos were programmed at tenths of a foot,

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Distos were programmed at tenths of a foot,

They will measure in inches and fractions of inches. I just measured for a new screen door. Go try and buy a screen door in tenths of a foot at Lowes.

 

[Sandra Koutsopoulos]

Considering that we often are "measuring" spaces we can't reach, including higher & lower levels than we have access to, let alone fighting our way through bushes and other obstructions that make getting up close so we can measure that 1/10th of a foot impossible, there's bupkus chance of having every house appraised accurately measure to 1/10 inch all around. In my opinion most buildings have walls that are not exactly equal, carpenters make things fit even if 1/8th" off here or there, and stucco is another not 100% precise material either. IMO the tenth of a foot measurements, esp since most things are measured in inches everywhere else, is an exercise in totally wasting your time. I suppose the digital robots want stuff in 10ths, and that's why there's this push for metrics. The robots want us to comply; we are their servants. I suspect if we were to draw everything to 1/10th foot, we'd find a chaos of un-equal numbers, with some walls seeming not to meet each other without a tiny angle adjustment. And anyway, WTH is the point of this reversion to Europe's system. Pointless.

 

[Fernando]

It doesn't really matter. Just measure as tenth or inches whatever. It won't make statistically much of a difference in gross area. Also, GSEs won't find out.
By the way, when in London I think they still use feet and miles. I felt I was in America except for the driver side in driving.

 

[Dublin ohio]

Where is everybody getting this is metrics. If we were using metrics. We would be measuring in meters and centimeters. They are probably insisting on 1/10 to make it easier to digitize and it is easier to check consistency. Always easier to calculate using 1/10 than 1/12. So now I guess when doing from plans and specs we are going to have to convert the construction prints from inches to 1/10 ft when we duplicate for the report.

 

[Fernando]

Where is everybody getting this is metrics. If we were using metrics. We would be measuring in meters and centimeters. They are probably insisting on 1/10 to make it easier to digitize and it is easier to check consistency. Always easier to calculate using 1/10 than 1/12. So now I guess when doing from plans and specs we are going to have to convert the construction prints from inches to 1/10 ft when we duplicate for the report.

Fannie is making an issue with tenth and feet a waste of time instead of concentrating in appraising correctly.

 

[sputnam]

It was optional before, but we always used tenths of a foot because our 100 foot tape measures were in tenths since the 1990's. Then Distos were programmed at tenths of a foot,

Ditto. The tape measures I used has inches on one side, tenths on the other. I used tenths because it didn't require conversion when it came time to calculate the square footage. However, it should be noted that inches is more precise than tenths.

 

[Dublin ohio]

Fannie is making an issue with tenth and feet a waste of time instead of concentrating in appraising correctly.

Appraising "correctly" is the responsibility of the appraiser, no matter who the client or user is

 

[Fernando]

GSEs know appraisers have to appraiser "correctly" but they can set up their arbitrary rules in making appraisers jump over them.
Some will trip and slow them down in their profitability or get in trouble for technicalities.
Every year more and more rules. Getting harder to appraise "correctly" having so many obstacles.