Irregular Shaped Lots

[Willie]

I don't think I have seen this discussed here. Every now and then I get a lot that has very irregular dimensions and am unable to calculate the exact size. Very often, in some counties, the Assessor of property does not calculate either. Often times, after calling the local register of deeds, it is determined that the surveyor did not specify the exact size. <_<

What do you do in such a case? I normally just call the size Typical, if such is accurate. :redface: Every now and then an underwriter protests. What is your MO in this scenerio?

 

[Karl]

Most lots here are Irregular Typical of Area not adverse No Survey supplied the lot is estimated to be Sqaure Feet +/- from data gathered from 3rd party sources.

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

OK, I'm just a little anal...... OK..... maybe alot.

I have a file in Total that I do lot sketches in. I make the scale large enough to fit it, make the sketch as close as I can, then hit =

ALWAYS, my dimensions have after the numbers: "Subject to current survey"

after my lot SF it says "Estimated only"

 

[Patrick Egger]

William ..

On the WT user's group on yahoo, in the files area are several excel worksheets that will calculate irregular lots. The problem is when you get to curves. There are also several freeware programs for the same thing on ZDNet.com.

When I have a similar issue, I call the local Stewart Title Information center. They will generaly fax or e-mail me a copy of the plat map with the engineer's calculation of land area.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

Apex includes a survey module. I have an icon on my desk top that goes directly to Apex. When I have an irregular shaped lot, I sketch the lot using the survey module, resetting my scale to anywhere from 30 to 100' to an inch, then follow around the lot reading the legal description or the information from the recorded plat. Following the subdivision plat has to be done very carefully, always keeping in mind the direction that needs to done next in relationship to the last direction. The south line of the lot might be tied in to the southeast corner of the section but the northeast corner might be tied to the west quarter corner, etc, etc. It also tells me if the legal description doesn't close. If it doesn't close than I re-read the legal description, double checking my entries. If everything checks out and it still doesn't close I use a "fudge factor" to close. If there is spiral curve(s) in the legal, I leave those for the last line to draw and just use Apex's curve function, which isn't exact but close enough for my purposes. Then I print out the sketch, which prints the square footage and the acreage. Leave that sketch in my folder for my subject or stapled to my comparable data sheet so the next time I use that comparable I have the correct site area. Took a few sketches to use to the program, but it is basically the same steps are drawing a house--now they are as much fun as sketching a house! And I know I have the correct site area!

 

[Rick Kulman]

Try using Deed Plotter+ for Windows from Greenbriar Graphics. We began using the dos version in 1990.

www.greenbriargraphics.com

Plug in the legal description including curves. You will get a sketch of the parcel including the area.

We use it in most reports for the subject and land comp area calculations.

 

[Pat Butler]

I use a CAD plug in for Corel Draw that calculates area. I copy & paste from my online plat map into Corel then trace it to scale. There are a number of software solutions out there- mostly in the CAD area that will do the job. We are professionals- I would hope that every appraiser has found some way to accurately determine the area of an irregular site by now.

At a minimum, find yourself a simple graphic program that you can learn how to use. Create a small square of a known area-- let's say a 10' x 10' square. You can then copy and paste that square so that it fills up your site on the screen. Almost any graphic program will allow you to paste multiple squares down very quickly to create a large grid. Then simply count the full squares and multiply by 100 square feet, and estimate the area of the partial squares (quarter of a square, half of a square, etc.)

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

I am soooo glad I work in two counties that have that information on their website. I just defer to them.