What Is The Best House Outdoor Measuring Device?

[Harry Kessel]

My wheel broke so I have to get a new measuring device. What is recommended?

Thanks!

 

[sunster]

I'm surprised no one has replied yet. Anyway, do a search on this forum for "Disto." There are many threads on this type of laser measuring device. Wheels are old school. Step into the 21st century.

 

[bnmappraisal]

I'm 34 and prefer my 100' vinyl tape measure ... approx. $17 at Sears. I know I'm old school, but I'm also a creature of habit and that's the way I trained.
.... also I'm colorblind and have a hard time seeing the "dot" at the end of a "disto"

 

[jay trotta]

Bow & Arrow for those 2nd floor areas and vinyl tape for 1st floor, old school works fine - testing the assessor anyway.

 

[Tom Woolford]

I've been using a Disto for about 12 years now. I'm an old **** but found it was easy to adjust to. The biggest problem with new users is they try to use it like a tape and it doesn't work that way. Watch a couple videos, and the Disto will meet every challenge.

 

[Vermonter]

Have a disto, 50' and 100' logger tapes, a big wheel for site measurements and a little wheel. Use them all at different times, however my go to is the little wheel. Had the same one for about 15 years now and it's still going strong.

 

[Tejus]

Laser measuring device (choose your favorite brand).

Clipboard with tenth of ft measurements marked on the back (faster/easier than laser for short measurements).

Sokkia Appraiser's 100' tape with the large hook end.

Your legs for stepping off large distances. Requires you to determine the number of steps you have per 100'.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Sokkia Appraiser's 100' tape with the large hook end.

Exactly - works every time. Far better than a cheap tape from Home Depot. And the Disto works fine most times but I find bright light and no target (like my assistant's clipboard) and you can mismeasure real easy.

 

[DWiley]

I used reel tapes for many years, but once I switched to a laser I would never have gone back to the reel tape. I kept it in the trunk for an emergency, but once you learn how to use a laser correctly, you will wonder why you did not switch a long time ago.

 

[HF Mudd]

I'm a dyed in the wool 100' vinyl tape measure guy. I've resisted switching to a laser measuring device for several reasons:

1) Most of my work is urban and 60%+ of the homes I appraise are simple rectangles.
2) I'm getting forgetful in my older days and I'm afraid of leaving behind an expensive device - I can afford the $15 - $20 hit if I forget my tape measure.
3) I feel that the tape measure forces me to walk the perimeter of the house - I'm afraid I'll get lazy with a laser device.
4) Time spent measuring the exterior is time away from talkative borrowers.