Sketch Measurements: Curiouser and Curiouser

[Nancy Heiss]

I'm doing an FHA appraisal on an older home with some sloping roof, attic, basement. The homeowner provided a copy of the prior FHA appraisal done earlier this year. Initially the only area I looked at was the sketch, just out of curiosity to see how he handled the roof slopes. The measurements are rounded, not to the ANSI requirements at all. No slopes, attic or basement included on the sketch. Then I looked on Page 1, it shows a basement but no attic. I looked thru the photos, picture of attic is there. How did he get away with not including these items and the shoddy measurements? I've gotten revision requests asking for the ANSI measurement verbiage, even though it's already on my reports, right on the sketch. It pisses me off that some appraisers can slide by and not do a decent job. Grrr.

 

[CGinMN]

ANSI is not required for FHA

 

[Nancy Heiss]

ANSI is not required for FHA

But basements, patios, porches, attics are...

 

[Dublin ohio]

So I am assuming the attic was finished?

 

[Nancy Heiss]

So I am assuming the attic was finished?

Yes it was, but with a very sloped roof. I had failed to mention on my OP that no patio or porch measurements were included. It's just a thorn in my side as his prior appraisal has nothing to do with mine. Felt like venting as this was a very difficult property to measure.

 

[Airstream]

If you can measure a complicated house to the nearest inch you are far better than me. Good luck in making the walls close.

And if you think some appraisers are bad at measuring, then what do you think you will get with the comparable sales you are using where a real estate agent either didn't measure, or took the assessor data and the assessor didn't step foot in the house.

Personally, all this ANSI stuff to the nearest inch is BS. Just somebody sitting in some office that has never really done anything except make rules and guidelines wielding power.

 

[Nancy Heiss]

If you can measure a complicated house to the nearest inch you are far better than me. Good luck in making the walls close.

And if you think some appraisers are bad at measuring, then what do you think you will get with the comparable sales you are using where a real estate agent either didn't measure, or took the assessor data and the assessor didn't step foot in the house.

Personally, all this ANSI stuff to the nearest inch is BS. Just somebody sitting in some office that has never really done anything except make rules and guidelines wielding power.

I agree with you 100% on the ANSI measurements. My main complaint was that he didn't put the basement, attic or patios on the sketch at all. I'd never get away with that on any FHA appraisal I did. Nor would I want to. Gives a clear picture of the property instead of leaving off these areas. The basement is pretty large and could easily be made into a wine cellar or other useful space.

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

I'm doing an FHA appraisal on an older home with some sloping roof, attic, basement. The homeowner provided a copy of the prior FHA appraisal done earlier this year. Initially the only area I looked at was the sketch, just out of curiosity to see how he handled the roof slopes. The measurements are rounded, not to the ANSI requirements at all. No slopes, attic or basement included on the sketch. Then I looked on Page 1, it shows a basement but no attic. I looked thru the photos, picture of attic is there. How did he get away with not including these items and the shoddy measurements? I've gotten revision requests asking for the ANSI measurement verbiage, even though it's already on my reports, right on the sketch. It pisses me off that some appraisers can slide by and not do a decent job. Grrr.

Some folks are born lucky and skate through life. I just try to do my job correctly as I can.

 

[Tom4value]

I'm doing an FHA appraisal on an older home with some sloping roof, attic, basement. The homeowner provided a copy of the prior FHA appraisal done earlier this year. Initially the only area I looked at was the sketch, just out of curiosity to see how he handled the roof slopes. The measurements are rounded, not to the ANSI requirements at all. No slopes, attic or basement included on the sketch. Then I looked on Page 1, it shows a basement but no attic. I looked thru the photos, picture of attic is there. How did he get away with not including these items and the shoddy measurements? I've gotten revision requests asking for the ANSI measurement verbiage, even though it's already on my reports, right on the sketch. It pisses me off that some appraisers can slide by and not do a decent job. Grrr.

As someone here said, ANSI is not (yet!) required for FHA but not prohibited. I do measure to ANSI because I know it will eventually.

Back to your beef, when a homeowner or even a client asks me to comment on someone else’s appraisal, I shut them down, stating that, “my inspection and appraisal stands on it’s merits and I don’t comment on someone else’s work.”

 

[Nancy Heiss]

In this case, the homeowner didn't want me to comment, he just sent me the appraisal via email as he had mentioned he thought there was additional GLA that public record did not have but that the prior appraiser had noted.