Independent Real Property Appraiser and Market Analyst
Office Phone: (440) 717-3464
Cell Phone: (440) 263-7888
Email: jamieowen@aspenappraisalservices.com
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Certified Home Measurement Specialist (HMS)
Are you thinking of selling your home? Are you using a price per square foot metric in order to establish your asking price, or is your REALTOR? Do you really know what the finished square footage of your home is? Are you aware of the fact that not all finished and heated square footage can be considered as gross living area (GLA)?
I have completed a state-approved training course in measuring homes using ANSI standards from the Institute of Housing Technologies, LLC. I am a Certified Home Measurement Specialist (HMS), which is an international designation with the Institute of Housing Technologies. I am one of only two Certified Home Measurement Specialists in Northeast Ohio.
I offer home measuring services for single-family homes, condos, and townhomes. I use the ANSI Z765-2021 (American National Standards Institute) standards when measuring a residential property. ANSI Z765-2021 standard is an internationally recognized standard for measuring residential real estate. I also measure multi-family properties. However, ANSI standards are not used when measuring multi-family properties.
The square footage recorded with most County Auditors is often inaccurate. For instance, if you own a bungalow or cape cod style home, typically, they simply use half of the first floor's square footage for the second floor's square footage. However, the second floor may have dormers or other areas that often add square footage that public records do not reflect. You may have more square footage than public records reflect! If you rely upon the square footage recorded in public records, you might be pricing your home too low!
There is a misconception with many in the public, including many Realtors, that the square footage of a home, recorded with the County Auditor, is an officially certified square footage. This is simply not the case. The County Auditor's square footage estimates are not meant to be precise. They are used in order to establish real estate taxes. They were never intended to be used by other professions.
Because the information is readily available and free, and since it is shared by a government entity, there has long been a misconception that the square footage of a property, recorded in public records, is official. Call the County Auditor in your county and ask them. They will tell you. Their square footage should not be relied upon.
Did you know that as of April 2022, Fannie Mae will require that appraisers measure homes using ANSI Z765-2021? If you're a homeowner or REALTOR, don't be caught off guard by a square footage discrepancy. Don't rely on public records! Hire me to measure your home before you list it!
I use a laser, which is accurate to a sixteenth of an inch, to ensure precision. As part of my measurement process, I will need to access the interior of the property.
The largest home I have measured and appraised to date had over 26,000 square feet of finished square footage, with over 20,000 square feet being above grade. (Above ground)
Please note that if your home is measured by two qualified real estate professionals, using the same ANSI Z765-2021 standard, while the measurements may not be exactly the same, they should be very similar.
Even if you don't need a real estate appraisal, give me a call. Sometimes all you need is your property measured. I am happy to help you with that!
Basic Pricing (Pricing is subject to change depending on the complexity and location of the property)
Basic Measure - Starts at $125
Detailed Measure - Starts at $150
Interior Photos - Add $25
Reports are emailed in .pdf format. Pictures can be emailed individually if requested. Otherwise, they will be incorporated into my report, if requested. This service includes measuring the main dwelling and any accessory buildings.
Typically, I do not measure porches, decks, patios, pools, or other exterior amenities of this nature, unless requested to do so.
Thank you for your business!