American Measurement Standard - Appraisers Blogs https://appraisersblogs.com/category/american-measurement-standard/ Appraisal News and Tips for Real Estate Appraisers Mon, 17 Aug 2026 03:20:42 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 https://i0.wp.com/appraisersblogs.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/ABfavicon.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 American Measurement Standard - Appraisers Blogs https://appraisersblogs.com/category/american-measurement-standard/ 32 32 52046035 The Missing Standard https://appraisersblogs.com/time-2-make-measurement-standard-mandatory https://appraisersblogs.com/time-2-make-measurement-standard-mandatory#comments Mon, 17 Sep 2018 12:30:33 +0000 https://appraisersblogs.com/?p=19159 What can we do to establish a national measurement standard for appraisers? Every week I talk to appraisers in different parts of the country and the conversations are almost always the same. Square footage errors are a problem everywhere, some places worse than others. Every appraiser seems to understand the problem and many of them complain about the real estate agents, home-owners, and even underwriters who challenge them about their square footage totals. They rely on the “Official Record” they believe is listed by the local tax department. Who teaches them this stuff? How is it possible the general public...

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]]> https://appraisersblogs.com/time-2-make-measurement-standard-mandatory/feed/ 34 19159 Real, Real Estate Reform Needed https://appraisersblogs.com/real-estate-reform-system-make-over-needed https://appraisersblogs.com/real-estate-reform-system-make-over-needed#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2016 12:30:00 +0000 https://appraisersblogs.com/?p=11648 What a crazy system we have grown into since Dodd-Frank. All this talk about “Big Data” and “Standardization” makes me want to scream! Enough is enough. Before we get to the appraisal process discussion, let’s talk about how real estate is priced all across this country. Realtors® price homes, period. No Big Data, no thoughts of mortgage risk, accuracy, consistency, transparency, and no one is looking over their shoulders asking “why” on every choice they make. No regression analysis, no quality or condition ratings, not too much of anything that resembles an appraisal these days. Yet, they are quick to...

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]]> https://appraisersblogs.com/real-estate-reform-system-make-over-needed/feed/ 5 11648 What is Gross Living Area (GLA)? https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/what-is-gross-living-area-and-what-does-it-include/ https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/what-is-gross-living-area-and-what-does-it-include/#comments Mon, 15 Jun 2015 12:30:18 +0000 https://appraisersblogs.com/?p=8010 What is Gross Living Area and What Does it Include? Appraisers, There are certain properties where aspects of Gross Living Area (GLA) might not be obvious. It’s more confusing when the selling real estate agents lump all “living space” together, because that’s what they are selling, or when the county assessor includes basements with upper level areas. These include homes with a detached ADU, additional rec room or sleeping space above a garage, additional living space with roof attached to the primary dwelling via covered breezeway, basement living spaces with separate entry, etc. Fannie Mae has a giant book called...

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  • How Big is My House? As a house gets older the wood begins to shrink... Do you ever get those questions? “Well ABC appraised my…
  • When Does a Closet Become a Room? When is a closet a room? In most cases, interior closets are included within the total finished square footage. But,…
  • Appraisers' GLA vs Assessors' GLA GLA in your appraisal reports being questioned Appraisers, today (4/30/15), Freddie Mac released a document showing Warning and Fatal codes…

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]]> https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/what-is-gross-living-area-and-what-does-it-include/feed/ 29 8010 Indeed, Size Matters! https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/indeed-size-matters/ https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/indeed-size-matters/#comments Mon, 23 Mar 2015 12:30:28 +0000 https://appraisersblogs.com/?p=7156 Many agents have asked; “Does this square footage stuff really matter to me? Isn’t it more of an appraisal issue? Fair questions. Let’s take a look at one sale where the agent now understands just how square footage affects a listing value. It was a hard lesson in the importance of square footage, and one they will not soon forget.

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]]> https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/indeed-size-matters/feed/ 6 7156 Are Realtors & AMC’s Killing the Home Valuation System? https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/are-realtors-and-amcs-killing-the-home-valuation-system-in-a-word-yes/ https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/are-realtors-and-amcs-killing-the-home-valuation-system-in-a-word-yes/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2014 12:30:17 +0000 https://appraisersblogs.com/?p=6310 Are Realtors and AMC’s Killing the Home Valuation System? In a word, YES! Many Appraisal Management Companies are now demanding that appraisers change the square footage details listed within their reports. Why? Because they saw a different number on Zillow® or in public records. How have we gone this far wrong? Appraisers generally turn first to their own files for square footage details. Next, they turn to the MLS, which is touted as “the most trusted source of real estate information in the world.” Then, if there are no other options (like in the many areas where the MLS does...

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]]> https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/are-realtors-and-amcs-killing-the-home-valuation-system-in-a-word-yes/feed/ 9 6310 How Big is My House? https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/how-big-is-my-house/ https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/how-big-is-my-house/#comments Tue, 18 Mar 2014 12:30:55 +0000 https://appraisersblogs.com/?p=5830 As a house gets older the wood begins to shrink… Do you ever get those questions? “Well ABC appraised my house last year and my house was 3,726 square feet. Why do you say it only contains 3,698 square feet?”. I have always wanted to say, well as your house gets older, the wood begins to shrink… Everyone knows of course that houses come in different sizes, shapes and that walls can be built at angles other than 90, 60 or 45 degrees, thus accurate measuring can be a challenge. When you factor in roof pitch for upstairs rooms, or...

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]]> https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/how-big-is-my-house/feed/ 6 5830 Two Measurement Standards: ANSI vs. AMS https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/two-measurement-standards-ansi-vs-ams/ https://appraisersblogs.com/appraisal/two-measurement-standards-ansi-vs-ams/#comments Thu, 08 Sep 2011 13:18:02 +0000 https://appraisersblogs.com/?p=1142 Are you really following the ANSI ® home measurement standard? When the ANSI ® standard isn’t really ANSI ® Many agents (and appraisers) claim to be using the ANSI ® measurement standard, when in fact they are using the American Measurement Standard®. And, there’s no one rushing to teach them the difference. Industry leaders have taken a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and square footage remains a source of confusion in the real estate industry. In many parts of the country, agents and appraisers are disclosing to their clients that they strictly adhere to the ANSI ® measurement standard. But,...

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