Best Data Source for Measurements

[RE30101]

Hi. Will someone tell me if there is a good data source for measurements/GLA that is worth paying for. I've used CompFlo; but it seems like they don't have much data. I loved Redlink...but, that's no longer around. Your help is appreciated.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

taxnetusa.com

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

All sources of GLA would relate to a public source or MLS which means the assessors appraisers measured it or a Realtor got a measurement from somewhere, rarely from measuring themselves. Realtor measurements are inaccurate frequently. So the quality depends upon the state and/or person who is doing the measuring.

 

[Tim Hicks (Texas)]

taxnetusa.com will let you purchase the county assessor sketch although they are sometimes not very reliable or accurate.

 

[Carnivore]

This may seem like a stupid question: Why or for what purpose do you need a source of dimensions/measurements? My guess is your trying to save some time, I am cool with that.

Reason I ask is because on assignments I complete; I am the source and I use a tape/laser to get them.

BUT having said that, it is helpful when I have a sketch with measurements that I get from the specific County GIS. Often times I find errors in the GIS info. Usually thats a result of subject modifications to the structure and GIS is behind in updates or its a non-permitted addition. I also look for sketch's in MLS that aide me when I perform the site Inspection, but I don't have to have it to do my job.

 

[WestMichiganCG]

Our assessing website typically has a sketch. It's nice to have with you when you're measuring as it often saves me the trouble of sketching. I just have to write the dimensions on the sheet. The shape is often correct, the measurements are rounded to the nearest foot and I've found them to be significantly off.

 

[Restrain]

Florida, the sketch is on-line, which helps in the initial inspection, and also helps catch MLS errors in reported home size. However, Texas passed a law saying that the sketches couldn’t be posted online. Seems some politician in the Panhandle got upset because he found his home on the Internet.

 

[Carnivore]

Boy, some house's are so complex that a former MLS sketch or measuring service sketch really saves time. I said i would never pay a data service for a sketch is because they often have stolen it from free sources that I already have access too.

But the FNMA cert/limitations page say I measured. OK, I did measure...maybe not all the sides but at least some of them.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

The shape is often correct, the measurements are rounded to the nearest foot and I've found them to be significantly off.

That's the easy way. I actually copy and paste the assessors field card (which I download as pdf) sketch to my inspection sheet. Then I check off the dimensions. I round to the foot as well, often have no change to make. But on the last one I measured they were off by a foot on one side. I double checked but the figure was almost exactly 6' and they had 7'. Because the other side measurement was some 24' 8", I assumed they simply closed the sketch without measuring and had under-measured the longer side.