Joan Trice: CRN – Gross Living Area Measuring Standards Announcement

[Tawfik Ahdab]

COMEDY!

 

[Overimprovement]

If the county assessor doesn’t use ANSI, and neither do the real estate brokers in the local market area, and MLS’s in most markets don’t use it either, then who is the appraiser via his/her nvestor/client overlord to impose ANSI standards without bothering to meet the defining reality of buyer/seller acceptance worked out ON THEIR OWN in their direct, forthright, and fully earnest transactions as described in the commonly-accepted definition of market value?

I think appraisers need to be in charge of this as WE are the only ones actually measuring in many jurisdictions. In my areas, assessors never go inside a house. They have no clue what the real GLA is. And we know realtors don't measure.

I don't care if some standardization is enacted, but ONLY if all stakeholders use it. Having every appraiser decide what standard to measure with is a bit problematic.

But again, how were the comps measured? If they even were?

 

[andrew81]

Does ANSI mention whether to round up or down or to nearest half foot?

When using English measurement units, the house is measured to the nearest inch or tenth of a foot; the final square footage is reported to the nearest whole square foot.

Rounding
The finished square footage of a house is to be reported to the nearest whole square foot for above-grade finished square footage and for below-grade finished square footage.

Does ANSI mention how to measure stairs in which some stairs use the area under the stairs as closets and others just wasted space?

Openings to the Floor Below
Openings to the floor below cannot be included in the square footage calculation. However, the area of both stair treads and landings proceeding to the floor below is included in the finished area of the floor from which the stairs descend, not to exceed the area of the opening in the floor.

Further, stairs that descend to an unfinished basement are included in the finished square footage of the first level regardless of the degree of finish of the stairs or the degree of finish of the area around the stairs. In addition, areas beneath stairs are included in the finished square footage regardless of the distance between the stairs and the floor below or of the degree of finish of that area.

Does ANSI address how to measure so called "basement" level which is interpreted differently in different locales?

Above- and Below-Grade Finished Areas
The above-grade finished square footage of a house is the sum of finished areas on levels that are entirely above grade. The below-grade finished square footage of a house is the sum of finished areas on levels that are wholly or partly below grade.

 

[Flakey]

This is just going to open up a bunch of arguments as to what is considered gross living area

Nailed it!

 

[jay trotta]

Isn't ANSI already used by most appraisers?

No

 

[jay trotta]

I think appraisers need to be in charge of this as WE are the only ones actually measuring in many jurisdictions. In my areas, assessors never go inside a house. They have no clue what the real GLA is. And we know realtors don't measure.

I don't care if some standardization is enacted, but ONLY if all stakeholders use it. Having every appraiser decide what standard to measure with is a bit problematic.

But again, how were the comps measured? If they even were?

The grey matta, that really matters

 

[Sadie]

If the county assessor doesn’t use ANSI, and neither do the real estate brokers in the local market area, and MLS’s in most markets don’t use it either, then who is the appraiser via his/her nvestor/client overlord to impose ANSI standards without bothering to meet the defining reality of buyer/seller acceptance worked out ON THEIR OWN in their direct, forthright, and fully earnest transactions as described in the commonly-accepted definition of market value?

None of these are your peers. Using PEER standard. What do your peers do? That is peer standard. County records here show building square feet, not living area and separate out the floors, including the basement. Accuracy is hit or miss. I am not a fan of ANSI or the Fannie/Freddie definition, but I do understand the reasoning. Geez and if you think your clients are overlords, maybe you need new clients.

 

[Tawfik Ahdab]

"None of these are your peers. Using PEER standard. What do your peers do? That is peer standard."

Really? Says who?

It's been a point of contention among us "peers" for many years on this forum and in the real world.

ANSI measuring standards go back only to 1996. Until the Oregon Appraisal Board decrees ANSI to be THE Standard, it is not THE Standard.

As for the overlordship issue, I was alluding to standards imposed from outside upon the market even when market participants themselves don't give them any regard, let alone be guided by them.

 

[Sadie]

"None of these are your peers. Using PEER standard. What do your peers do? That is peer standard."

Really? Says who?

It's been a point of contention among us "peers" for many years on this forum and in the real world.

ANSI measuring standards go back only to 1996. Until the Oregon Appraisal Board decrees ANSI to be THE Standard, it is not THE Standard.

As for the overlordship issue, I was alluding to standards imposed from outside upon the market even when market participants themselves don't give them any regard, let alone be guided by them.

USPAP is who says. Look it up. Can't believe you don't know that. in the definitions, SOW Rule.

 

[Joe Flacco]

Why you don't measure the subject in ANSI when your comp data is not ANSI requires no explanation. Some real dummies out there man.