Topography Upslope Or Downslope

[Robert Gonsalves]

Hello;
As I review reports and look at MLS Listings I keep seeing properties listed in differant ways when described as upslope or downslope terrian.
I'm curious how my fellow appraisers use upslope or downslope, from the road to the structure, from the structure to the road, what are your differant therories as to upslope or downslope. Are there differant therories as I see so much by other appraisers and agents, I have mine, please share your thoughts on this subject. Is there a right or wrong?

 

[Willie]

Robert, I describe it as I access the property. Normally this is from the road. If it slopes downward, I say so. A house with a basement may be in order, if it is a vacant lot. If the property rises up from the road, I just state so. No right or wrong way of doing it, so long as it adequately describes the topopgraphy.

 

[hastalavista]

Robert-

I try to describe it so the reader can get a “visual” picture (you be the judge if it does the trick):
“Subject has a rear upslope”.
“Subject is situated on a down slope from the street- the subject’s pad is level”.
“Subject’s lot is 15-25% level utility, with a front to rear down slope. Subject is built on a “tiered” pad”.

 

[George Hatch]

I usually report topography as as it relates to street grade. I try to estimate elevation changes in feet and figure lot utility as a percentage of gross lot area. Sometimes I'll measure the dimensions of a building pad or a terrace. Sometimes I'll use DeLorme's Topo Map program to call out the elevation changes in a site if topo is a big deal.

I use that information in my appraisal reports, too. If the site is small enough relative to the improvements I'll orient the structure on the site in my diagram, using lot lines off the parcel maps and setbacks I measure in the field. I'll even show driveways and street names in my diagrams. Orientation of the improvements on the site sometimes affects lot utility.

So yeah, I believe in measurements and good diagrams in my appraisal reports. In fact, I am anxiously awaiting delivery this week on the Disto I'm buying through our own Doug Bingham (thanks Doug). I'll be able to readily take even more measurements. Exactly how tall is that interior truss? How wide is that driveway and how far is it from the corner of the lot?

Next thing you know I'll be doing my diagrams in the field with a tablet PC.

 

[Richard Carlsen]

I typically describe it as it relates to the front of the house.

On normal properties, it is the road side of the house.

On waterfront properties where the lake side is considered the front, it is the lake side. And on lake properties, it had better be "slopes to the lake" or the HO is in big trouble.

 

[Ray Miller]

Will run with Richard and George on this one.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

upslope or downslope

I don't use either term.

I state whether the house sits above street level or below street level. When referring to a lot, I state "sloping to rear" or "Sloping to front". For rural tracts the soils codes have code for the range of slope and I display the soil code or state the slope.

 

[Hal Mann]

I'm so glad Robert brought this up. As a reviewer, this is one of those things that just drive me crazy. You would not believe the number of appraisals that are written describing a sloping site, without specifying which way it slopes.

Please don't let this happen to your reports! Thank you for this opportunity to vent!

 

[Thomas N. Morgan]

The trouble with those "slopes to..." or "slopes from...." statements is that reader can't tell whether the lot slopes UP or slopes DOWN.

AS: "Lot slopes to street". Or "Lot slopes from street" Which way does it slope? Up or down? In those statements, for clarity, you must state a beginning and ending point, as well as the directiion of the slope.