GLA discrepancy: Builder's MLS vs Realist vs My Measurements . . .

[ZZGAMAZZ]

I know right? Seems that if you are selling a product that you have the right information about it. I mean the things that give it value are important to the process or should be. I had a Broker tell me that we shouldn't get paid unless everyone in the process got paid. I laughed and hung up on him, this dude has been selling real estate for 30 plus years. Not sure he understands what an appraisal is for anymore. Tells me how they work in a business that they don't get paid in for a month or two on each house, I said if you don't like it work somewhere you get a paycheck every two weeks. I also said his paycheck when he sales a property percentage wise is much larger than what I got appraising that one house.

Relatively new agent who attended a broker meeting recently complained about having to determine the zoning for a listing of hers. I reminded her that she has ONE listing while appraisers are responsible to determine zoning for dozens . . . hundreds of properties. On-line zoning maps are very helpful EXCEPT THE CITIES THAT DON'T LIST THE STREET NAMES, which drives me crazy and I make them aware of my perspective.

 

[ramrcdk]

Here in SoCal I would estimate that the agent is personally aware of the accuracy of the GLA in 1 of every 200 appraisal assignments.

WOW = shameful!
In particular, there are three measuring companies that have monopolized the area market due to having a professional product & by word-of-mouth. Often I print their sketch to compare my measurements. Double Check.

Agree: agents in 3 inch pumps & new pair of hose! Or Agent-for Investors are the worst.
Broker Mandates (Employment) requiring all agents proof of GLA in the File ... has helped 100%.

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

WOW = shameful!
In particular, there are three measuring companies that have monopolized the area market due to having a professional product & by word-of-mouth. Often I print their sketch to compare my measurements. Double Check.

Agree: agents in 3 inch pumps & new pair of hose! Or Agent-for Investors are the worst.
Broker Mandates (Employment) requiring all agents proof of GLA in the File ... has helped 100%.

I think I would enjoy a job just measuring SFR's for realtors.

 

[apprtech]

I think I would enjoy a job just measuring SFR's for realtors.

When the business was slow in the late 90s I had a side business where I measured the house, got the zoning, and data about the house for the Realtor. I was hired to exactly 5 of them, 3 for the same one lol. They don't want to know what the real square footage was.

 

[Joe Flacco]

Agents don't really care about appraiser measurements. They need and want marketing material. If you want to do stuff like that for agents then you have to get a matterport camera and compete with all those floor plan and tour companies.

 

[ramrcdk]

I think I would enjoy a job just measuring SFR's for realtors.

EDIT: Post #35: I find the opposite. Don't have to get nothing-don't already have in the Toolbox. Countless Agents are aware the property will not make 10 days on market & just need accurate data for the listing.

YOU SHOULD! I provided measuring services & stacks of business cards. A (southpark) Broker chose me-preferred me-referred me to measure
all agents listings, then it multiplied X' s. Good $$$, very quick. Back Then: Trip Local $25 + hour wage. Two-Type Service: GLA sketch or GLA with interior sketch. Option: all exterior improvements. Of course, some were "not fun". Rare to make <$100 per + some good days able to get 4-5 in & app' inspection too. Good money back then & didn't mind to stay up late!
Appraising was my path, I didn't stick with it AND should have been smarter to have a second business by training mini-me's
Good Memory: Met so many interesting people, some snobs some not. A few were bank-influencers, quite well-known & very kind. One was college-pro ball famous & his Mom requested I stay for dinner. LOL, almost did!

 

[ZZGAMAZZ]

EDIT: Post #35: I find the opposite. Don't have to get nothing-don't already have in the Toolbox. Countless Agents are aware the property will not make 10 days on market & just need accurate data for the listing.

YOU SHOULD! I provided measuring services & stacks of business cards. A (southpark) Broker chose me-preferred me-referred me to measure
all agents listings, then it multiplied X' s. Good $$$, very quick. Back Then: Trip Local $25 + hour wage. Two-Type Service: GLA sketch or GLA with interior sketch. Option: all exterior improvements. Of course, some were "not fun".
Appraising was my path, I didn't stick with it AND should have been smarter to have a second business by training mini-me's
Good Memory: Met so many interesting people, some snobs some not. A few were bank-influencers, quite well-known & very kind. One was college-pro ball famous & his Mom requested I stay for dinner. LOL, almost did!

My experience is that virtually all real estate agents are fine people, struggling just like us appraisers. I met a listing agent recently who was a younger guy in his late 30's who had been a PGA traveling tour caddy. Seein' as how I caddied for about 10 years or more as a kid, It was a great conversation.

 

[andrew81]

In my market assessor property data is not available online, only the tax bill from the treasurer. The assessor will email scans of any document requested.
The property record card will have an incorrect sketch of only the main level and a year built. The year built for anything before 1930 is suspect and typically just says 1900.
Real estate agents always use what is on the property record card. If another online source has GLA or year built is it from a prior listing, that is from the PRC that is most likely incorrect.

 

[ramrcdk]

In my market assessor property data is not available online, only the tax bill from the treasurer. The assessor will email scans of any document requested.
The property record card will have an incorrect sketch of only the main level and a year built. The year built for anything before 1930 is suspect and typically just says 1900.
Real estate agents always use what is on the property record card. If another online source has GLA or year built is it from a prior listing, that is from the PRC that is most likely incorrect.

A shame
comparing...Guess we have very easy around here.
Of course I'm sure agents would like to go-back to the time where it wasn't mandated that their Service Be Reliable = GLA.
Being a Broker, I would be equally if not more responsible in agents DOING THE JOB they are licensed to DO = rep'ping their sellers with "best efforts".

 

[shrubberyvaluation]

IMO - you have no way of knowing for sure if the comps are affected. Unless you knock on their doors and measure them.

Did the builder offer different versions of the homes? For instance I have seen: Choice of a 3 bedroom with 3 car garage, a 4 bedroom with a 2 car garage. They just build out one portion of the garage into a bedroom. Same footprint, different GLA.

If you eye them and it doesn't look like it matches up with tax records I would estimate or at least do main width and length measurements if possible. If it looked like the same floor plan and size as the subject for instance I would not adjust for GLA. For attached houses that are the same width you can typically see how it compares.