Measuring comps ?

[Lawrence R.]

Just trying to make a point with the "skippy" reference. The "skippy" name seems to get tossed around a lot on this forum when aimed at those that don't seem to toe the exact letter of the USPAP law that is in the mind of the poster.

Now we have a property rights situation that many seem to have no problem with. In other words. . .what is "wrong" or "illegal" seems to be situational based on what I am reading.

Then go back and re read it. That was not what I was advocating. I get to go..I work for the assessor's office.

I mentioned(here for the 3rd time) builders wouldn't object to your measuring if you call them.

CALL THEM I SAID!!

Nobody was advocating breaking the law, and frankly even if you did go unannounced to measure a property, being on a piece of property unannounced is not necessarily trespassing. How on earth would anybody be able to knock on your door, for Pete's sake?

 

[ockyappraiser]

"even if you did go unannounced to measure a property, being on a piece of property unannounced is not necessarily trespassing. How on earth would anybody be able to knock on your door, for Pete's sake?"

walking up a sidewalk to knock on a door would be regarded anywhere as acceptable as there is an "implied access" via the sidewalk, etc. Taking a tape and walking around the house, moving through the bushes and flower beds would be regarded as quite another situation.

From reading the thread. . .many seem to feel that if a house is vacant it is "okay". . .but not "okay" if occupied. This probably is driven by the increased risk from someone or some dog being in the yard or home.

So where we get to is that it is "okay" as long as I don't run the risk of getting shot or eaten.

As to new consruction sites. . .many around here have had tools stolen that have been left in the home by people coming in without permission. This is particularly so after hours when no one is around. What do you think would happen if the contractor came in the following morning and found his brand new circular saw gone. . .and in checking a neighbhor told him you were no site and gave him the name off your sign on the car? Who do you think he would go after for the saw? If he took you to small claims court and the judge asked if you had permission to be on the property what would you say?

Bottom line is that I don't go on ANY property that I don't have either a written appraisal order for, owner's permission, or occupants permission. You are asking to get shot, eaten, or sued if you do.

 

[Stephen J. Vertin MAI]

On the commercial side I have invested $400 per year for Google Earth Pro. The sky view measuring key is fairly accurate in buildings over 5,000 square feet. However, the smaller the building the less accurate it becomes. Not sure how well it would do on single family homes. I did measure most of the comps with permission for my demo; however, one of the owners told me to get bent and get the **** out of here (no joke). I have always been concerned with trespass issue. Further I would be afraid of being shot when just randomly knocking on doors. There are so many nuts out there and it is not as if it has never happened in the past.

I know most single family people are measurement zealot but most people do not know the square footage of their house. They only know it is smaller or larger (up to a point). So what would be the point of such accuracy? It is not how buyers and sellers react in the market.

 

[Ray Miller]

In the area I cover the MLS can list anything for GLA from top to bottom. Its up to the RE agent if s/he wants to count basement or attic as GLA to boost the selling appeal of the home in the MLS As a lot of the area the assessor records are not even in the same township or maybe even the same county, you don’t have access to a sketch, room count or GLA with ease. So if you have a question about the MLS GLA you best measure.

I done too many reviews that they used the data from the MLS and did not measure the sales selected as comparables and were off several 100 GLA.