Need your home measured or a floorplan for your property? Let Michael Cowles Appraisals help.

Home remodels and inaccurate valuations on public records will affect a property's price — and a potential buyer's interest in it. Let Michael Cowles Appraisals give you a reliable calculation of property area to determine a fair value when acquiring a property, marketing a property to potential clients, or reducing property taxes.

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What is a home measurement or floorplan service?

A home measurement service is just what it sounds like: Based on your needs, an appraiser will measure the home's dimensions and area, then draw a basic or highly detailed floorplan. The appraiser's report and floorplan is a document that can be used to prove the accurate Gross Living Area (GLA), the total livable space, of your home. These services are useful and sometimes essential when disputing property taxes or selling a property.

How does a home measurement service work?

During a home measurement or floorplan service, an appraiser measures your home or property with a measuring tool — either a tape or laser measuring device. As they walk the property, they make note of the layout of the rooms and other features, like stairs, entryways, and fireplaces. They might draw a rough sketch of the property. Then, the appraiser types up a report and detailed floorplan showing the total living area and the general layout of the house. The finished product is a document that can be used to prove certain specs of your property — like the Gross Living Area (GLA) — on tax documents, property listings, and more.

When is a home measurement or floorplan service required?

Challenging property taxes

Tax records often reflect incorrect area of a property because the values can come from several sources, and sometimes go unproven — which means you may be paying for more space than you own! Unless an appraiser has recently performed a valuation on your property (after any renovation that might have affected square footage), you'll need one to perform a measurement service before contesting your taxes. An appraiser assesses an accurate Gross Living Area (GLA) of your property so your taxes reflect your actual square footage — and you can stop overpaying.

Selling a home or property

A floorplan service can ensure that you're paid fair market value for your property. Living space is one of the most important factors potential buyers look for when purchasing a house — but since these values are often approximated rather than properly measured, your home listing might show less Gross Living Area (GLA) than it can take credit for. An inaccurate GLA not only reduces the selling price of your home, but possibly even the number of interested buyers. The only sure method of using a definitive GLA when listing your home is to reference a recent appraisal or measurement service carried out by a certified appraiser (after any remodeling that may have affected square footage).

Material for agents

To ensure that your client's home closes at a price that correctly reflects market value, we advise asking for a measurement of the property. Your clients, and especially potential buyers, will be grateful for your eye for detail, and you can be certain that the GLA on your client's listing is truly representative of their home. A floorplan can also be a wonderful marketing tactic for enticing potential buyers because they can see the layout and attributes of the property before and after touring. Contact Michael Cowles Appraisals to find out more about our home measurement and floorplan services.