Subject Sketch

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

I'm one of those that measures to the inch - and you are right, it never (or hardly ever) comes out even. There is always a stretch or two around the house that I cannot measure exactly due to shrubbery, etc. I hate holly bushes and rose spanish bayonets.

In the field I use a blank URAR (or whatever) form and make my notes on that. The graph paper is separate. I find that using the blank URAR as a checklist helps me not forget something.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

We also copy a 10 to the inch graph on the back of our inspection sheets for field measurements. I got a 6" ruler that measures in 10ths in a little pocket made with an envelope on my clipboard.

Judy....let me fax you a copy of my inspection sheet...works much better than a URAR form. Just use a highlighter to check off features. IM me your fax number.

 

[Pat Butler]

I just use blank paper to draw on, though it usually looks nicer if I use graph paper. Use sketch-it on the computer to draw it for the appraisal. I can't imagine using a hand drawing in an appraisal-- aren't you doing every digital? I measure to the inch and correct as necesary when I draw it on the computer. Why add innaccuracy by rounding to anything higher than that? Especially if you have a house with a lot of inside and outside corners where you may be forced to consistently round up, or down, and you could now be way off when the sketch if finally done.

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

I use the ten square graph paper in the field, keeps my lines straight, and helps me to determine if I close or not. Also helpful when drawing angles or curved windows or walls to keep everything in perspective. I measure to a tenth of an inch and my rounding in the field would be the closest tenth of an inch. Matches the grid paper and Apex much easier. I draw a complete interior floor plan in the field, that is also a benefit to reviewing my exterior walls whenever there are odd angles, etc. I note doors, and other items on the exterior and then I can line up on the interior--plus generalizations of furniture/fixture sizes help me locate the interior walls. If I have three rooms ten feet wide in a row and my exterior measurement is 40'---I better go back outside and do some remeasuring!!! Then the sketch for my client depends of the type of report they want. A 2055 gets an exterior sketch room locations only. A URAR or ERC gets the floor plan with closets, plumbing fixtures and locations of interior doors. A high end project would even get more detail in the sketch. Side garages get cars parked in them--always make sure the sedan is closest to the kitchen door so it is easier to carry in the groceries! Street facing garages just get a garage door. I have been doing it this way for so long, I get do a sketch with lots and lots of detail in less time then it takes other appraisers to just do exterior wall only sketches. (I've timed myself against other appraisers in a large office years ago)

 

[Blue1]

I use a legal-size 'check list' and use the blank side to draw the sketch in the field. Then I transfer to Apex in the office for a clean, scaled drawing. I will usually include interior walls, etc. Like Jo Ann, I use the line draw feature for complicated footprints (angles, polygonal shapes, etc) and then 'trace' over to get GLA. With Apex, I can 'whip' out a sketch of a simple home in 5 minutes.......Has saved me a lot of time. Anyone using Apex in the field?

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Have apex on my PDA but haven't used it yet. Forgot to mention we measure to the nearest .25 foot...same as assessor's office.

 

[Judy Whitehead (Florida)]

The pocket PC thingy is too small for me to see. I could probably draw a 24 x 48 doublewide but if I have a huge 3,000 Sq. Ft. + ranch style then I would never be able to see it or get it on that little screen. I was really hoping it would work for me, but it was not to be.

 

[Walter Kirk]

Years ago, BC (before computers) I used graph paper in the field and in the report. Graph paper was great on a rainy or snowy day. Watching the graph paper flutter away on a windy day is one of my fondest memorys. Now I make field drawings on a manila file jacket and then re draw with apex sketch, it isn't perfect but it's better than wet paper.

 

[Restrain]

I use graph paper in the field. At the office, I use DCSketch. Much simpler program than the others, very intuitive. Gave up trying to learn the others, not worth the time.

Roger

 

[Bobby Bucks]

I use only graph paper. Underneath that I put a blank URAR. I round to the nearest inch on odd days of the month and to the nearest tenth of a foot on even days. I include all icons and walls on the field sketch and only measure interior walls if there is a functional issue. I round to the nearest .25 foot with Sketch-It and only include icons and interior walls if there is a functional problem or if I think that for some reason the report will be glared at by someone with some education. 98% of the time they get a perimeter sketch only save a functional issue because that's all that is required except for Relos. Give your self a raise and stop wasting 15 minutes per report adding all those cute walls and icons. That saved time equates to about 2 more reports per month. Time is money. I hope my favorite appraiser down Crowley way is reading this.