Let me see if I have my information correct after reading many of these posts--
There is this new product for appraisers that is suppose to save time when measuring a house. It lets you measure a house down to the tenths of an inch. I bet the house sketches look just great with it- you know, all those computer sketching programs make your sketch look so great when all of the walls don't line up at ninety-degrees. I can see where those jaggie lines would impress our clients. And has anyone figured out exactly what part of the house you aim this thing at? With its accuracy, you'll need to be sure that you are hitting the outside of the face of the brick rather than the mortar line-- you wouldn't want to be off by a tenth or so. What about lap siding? Isn't there some sort of $200 target jig that attaches to the siding so that you can be sure to hit the middle of the sloped siding with the red dot? With accuracy down to tenths of an inch, you wouldn't want to mislead your client but not using the right aiming jig. After all, your client will appreciate measurements on your sketch like "17.9" inches rather than 17'-11". Doesn't everyone use the base-ten measurement system?
It works best on interior walls that we don't have to measure anyway. And exterior walls can sometimes be a problem if there is nothing to aim at. Sometimes you can still get a reading on an exterior wall but might need to double check that measurement with a tape measure anyway. And sometimes exterior walls can be measured with the 'pi' function. That requires a lot of hand-held accuracy that is best obtained by using a tripod. And don't forget your bubble level- the tripod is useless if you can't yaw this thing perfectly level. Make sure you are still within range of the house- you'll need your tape measure for that. Even with the tripod, you might not be able to spot the little red dot. Maybe this miracle device isn't spitting out red dots anymore because it ate its batteries. Check= batteries are OK. You can then buy some fancy red sunglasses that make that 'red' dot appear white. If you still can't see that dot then perhaps you just aren't aiming accurately enough. For hundreds of dollars more you can buy an aiming scope that attaches to this device to be even more accurate. You might need to take your red sunglasses off when you look through the aiming scope. I'm sure someone sells a special red sunglasses case for $100 or so that you can buy.
Just be sure to not use this thing in the "back woods." Picture this--- you are out in the front yard of someone's house, on your knees (didn't have enough money left to buy a tall enough tripod) with your tripod swinging in the wind, your red dot bouncing off all their windows, and your fancy red sunglasses on. The owner just may think you are a crazed appraiser trying to shoot up his family. Better wear your bullet proof vest too! Just another $500.
All of these impressive features come in a package that only costs somewhere near $700 or so-- roughly the cost of maybe 70-80 tape measures. And to think how much I've been getting ripped off by those tape measure companies. And if the $700 isn't a bargain, there are a number of different places to buy this thing at that may be $50 or so cheaper-- For that $50 savings you won't have the luxury of being able to return this thing. Matt actually says that the ability to take this miracle device back as a return is actually a benefit that he'll charge you more for! Keep throwing enough money at this thing and maybe you'll be able to measure a house accurately for around $1,000 or so. That might even include the "Sucker born every minute" t-shirt. Another $50 and it'll turn your TV and VCR on. Oh yeah, when you toss your tape measure over the bushes-- don't toss this with it. I'm sure that for $700 it is much sturdier than my tape measure that I drop all the time.
Still laughing very hard....this isn't a joke is it? This is all tongue and cheek-- no flames needed. But I just can't help laughing as I read the posts that talk about how much money people keep sinking into this........
