Needing a home measured? Let American Castle and Land Co. Kevin Bruechert, Appraiser and Realtor help.

Our certified appraisers will provide you with an accurate measurement of your property to assist in determining a fair value when buying or selling a home, lower property taxes as a result of incorrect estimates, or market to potential buyers when selling real estate.

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What are measurement services?

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

How does a measurement service work?

During a floorplan service, an appraiser measures the property with a measuring tool — generally a tape measure or laser measuring device. As they walk the home, they make note of the layout of the rooms and other features, like stairs, hallways, and fireplaces. They may make a rough sketch of the property. Then, the appraiser develops a report and a more detailed sketch showing the total living area of the house and the general layout. The resulting report is a document that can be used to prove certain details about your property — like the Gross Living Area (GLA) — on tax documentation, property listings, and more.

When should I get a floorplan service?

Real estate taxes

Property tax records frequently reflect the wrong square footage because the values can come from various sources, and occasionally go unproven — which means you may be taxed for more square footage than you actually own! Unless an appraiser has recently performed a valuation on your property (after any remodeling that might have affected square footage), you'll need an appraiser to perform a measurement service before challenging your taxes. An appraiser will establish the accurate Gross Living Area (GLA) of your property so your taxes can reflect the actual square footage — and you can stop paying more than your house is worth.

Selling a property

A floorplan service can ensure that you're paid fair market value for your house. Area is one of the biggest elements potential buyers consider when purchasing a home — but since square footage values are frequently estimated rather than accurately measured, your listing might show less Gross Living Area (GLA) than it can take credit for. An inaccurate GLA could potentially reduce the selling price of the property as well as the number of potential buyers. The only reliable method of using an accurate GLA when listing your home is to refer to a previous appraisal or home measurement service performed by a certified appraiser (after any renovation that might have affected square footage).

Material for real estate professionals

To ensure that your client's property closes at a price that properly reflects market value, we advise requesting a floorplan service for the property. Your clients, and potential buyers, will be grateful for your scrupulousness, and you can be assured that the GLA on your client's listing is truly representative of their home. A measurement can also be an excellent marketing tool to attract potential buyers since they can review the layout and details of the property before and after touring. Contact American Castle and Land Co. to learn more about our home measurement and floorplan services.