Your measuring and sketching process

[CenCoastApr]

Happy fall everyone. I was hoping to pick your brains on a couple items. I want to get some other perspectives and ideas. For those of you who are more experienced in the business; What is your favorite procedure for measuring and sketching your subjects? My mentor and I do use the Leica lasear tape measure which works well unless you cannot see the beam on a bright day. (But the cute little red goggles help)

He is an old school guy in many respects. Until I introduced him to grid paper, he would do his sketches on a blank piece of printer paper. This becomes rather challenging with larger, multi story homes. He tends to start at the front door and measure counterclockwise regardless of garage status.

I began attending our inspections with my iPad and using ACI’s “Sky Inspect“ app. Admittedly, I find the app it’s self to be a bit clunky, especially when taking and loading photos. But I like using the sketch feature to make sure that the sketch will close appropriately and have a reasonable GLA based on my measurement. But even that has it’s limitations, especially when dealing with garages that need to be measured from the inside and removed fro the calculated GLA, or being careful not to couple count stairs. I typically go home, and reproduce the sketch into ACI’s dubious software program. Still, this seems as if it could be streamlined. Anyone have a better method? Thank you for your time.

 

[George Hatch]

Blank piece of paper, I draw in the site dimensions and mark the halfway and sometimes the quarter lengths to provide some scale. Then I measure setbacks. THEN I start measuring the structure whilst maintaining my scale. I start the interior at the front door and move through the public zone of the home first. I estimate room sizes by eye (although I sometimes also measure). I measure interior wall heights and note floor coverings for each room.

I started out using graph paper but started skipping it a couple years later. On the more complicated floorplans where I've lost the scale I sometimes use a second sheet and redo the walls so they more closely approximate my measurements.

I came up old school. This was how I started and I never got out of the habit. Adding the extra details isn't a profitable way to do it, but I think it enables my users to get a better feel for what I'm seeing. Different strokes.

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

Happy fall everyone. I was hoping to pick your brains on a couple items. I want to get some other perspectives and ideas. For those of you who are more experienced in the business; What is your favorite procedure for measuring and sketching your subjects? My mentor and I do use the Leica lasear tape measure which works well unless you cannot see the beam on a bright day. (But the cute little red goggles help)

He is an old school guy in many respects. Until I introduced him to grid paper, he would do his sketches on a blank piece of printer paper. This becomes rather challenging with larger, multi story homes. He tends to start at the front door and measure counterclockwise regardless of garage status.

I began attending our inspections with my iPad and using ACI’s “Sky Inspect“ app. Admittedly, I find the app it’s self to be a bit clunky, especially when taking and loading photos. But I like using the sketch feature to make sure that the sketch will close appropriately and have a reasonable GLA based on my measurement. But even that has it’s limitations, especially when dealing with garages that need to be measured from the inside and removed fro the calculated GLA, or being careful not to couple count stairs. I typically go home, and reproduce the sketch into ACI’s dubious software program. Still, this seems as if it could be streamlined. Anyone have a better method? Thank you for your time.

I use Inspects Alot (Clickforms) for my photos. I have used the sketch program included but I like my Apex better so I use the backside of used copy paper and a pen, tape measure outside, disto laser on upstairs and garage. Old fashioned, I know, but I find it hard to hold everything at once. I generally do interior first unless it's a monster house.

 

[Sadie]

I use graph paper (easier to see if your building closes), clip board (duh), Leica laser and 100' measuring tape. I use the new Apex and miss the old one. Always do exterior first unless something prevents me from doing so. For me its easier to place the rooms and see if there are any voids.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

What is your favorite procedure for measuring and sketching your subjects? My mentor and I do use the Leica lasear tape measure which works well unless you cannot see the beam on a bright day. (But the cute little red goggles help)

The Bosch had a camera and in the screen you have a cross with circle in middle - you synch up your laser with that dot and then use it to target a clipboard or laser target for distance.
I do sketch on paper - our assessor is fairly good so my inspection sheet has a blank where I transfer the assessors sketch onto the inspection sheet and use as a template for my actual measurements. Integration is possible but I couldn't tell how I was saving so much as a minute when I had software (I do all narrative now.) Since my narrative template simply allows me to copy the sketch and paste into the report, a 10 second process at most, I don't need a tablet and don't want it with my old eyes. I can fill out my own form faster than I can finger type on a tablet. Pix - I use a DSLR - edit photos in Photoscape - (level the horizon, crop the image, and resize the photos which go into a folder for the subject. My narrative photo template is a one click to that folder, select and load. It is really not very time consuming.

 

[Tom4value]

I am with Tiffany Gibbons. I use Inspect-a-Lot for my interior notes and all photos. My interior floor plan I do with my finger on a note program. For the exterior dimensions, I use old fashioned pen and paper (pencil in winter as ink freezes) . I use a laser meauring device and keep a tape reel in my trunk when it is too bright out for laser.

The sketch for the report I use Rapidsketch using my notes. Not a big fan of it but gets it done.

 

[Tiffany Gibbons]

I use graph paper (easier to see if your building closes), clip board (duh), Leica laser and 100' measuring tape. I use the new Apex and miss the old one. Always do exterior first unless something prevents me from doing so. For me its easier to place the rooms and see if there are any voids.

I have the updated Apex, but set it back to :Legacy" mode,

 

[CenCoastApr]

I have the updated Apex, but set it back to :Legacy" mode,

I used Apex when I worked in the Assessor’s office. It was not perfect but better than ACIs in some ways. One of my biggest gripes is that there is no good user guide for the ACI version. (Or if there is, I have not found it)

 

[CenCoastApr]

The Bosch had a camera and in the screen you have a cross with circle in middle - you synch up your laser with that dot and then use it to target a clipboard or laser target for distance.
I do sketch on paper - our assessor is fairly good so my inspection sheet has a blank where I transfer the assessors sketch onto the inspection sheet and use as a template for my actual measurements. Integration is possible but I couldn't tell how I was saving so much as a minute when I had software (I do all narrative now.) Since my narrative template simply allows me to copy the sketch and paste into the report, a 10 second process at most, I don't need a tablet and don't want it with my old eyes. I can fill out my own form faster than I can finger type on a tablet. Pix - I use a DSLR - edit photos in Photoscape - (level the horizon, crop the image, and resize the photos which go into a folder for the subject. My narrative photo template is a one click to that folder, select and load. It is really not very time consuming.


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Forgive my newbie question… are narrative reports Fannie/Freddie/FHA friendly?

 

[Sadie]

I have the updated Apex, but set it back to :Legacy" mode,

I need to try that