Needing a property measured? Let Northwest Montana Appraisals, Inc. help.

Our certified appraisers can provide you with an accurate measurement or floorplan of your property to help you establish a fair value when buying or selling a home, cut down property taxes as a result of unreliable estimates, or market to potential buyers when selling real estate.

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What is a measurement or floorplan service?

A measurement service is just what it sounds like: An appraiser measures the dimensions and square footage of a property, then draws a basic or highly detailed layout based on your requirements. The appraiser's report and floorplan is a form that can be used to prove the accurate Gross Living Area (GLA), the total 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 measurement or floorplan service, a certified appraiser measures the home with a measuring tool — either a tape measure or laser measuring device. As they move around the home, they observe 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 creates a report and detailed floorplan showing the total area and the general layout of the house. The result is a document that can be used to prove certain details about your property — like the Gross Living Area (GLA) — on tax documents, property listings, and more.

When is a measurement or floorplan service required?

Challenging property taxes

Property tax records often reflect inaccurate square footage because the values can come from many sources, and sometimes go unverified — which means you may be taxed for more space than you actually own! Unless a certified 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 home measurement service before challenging what you're taxed. An appraiser assesses an accurate Gross Living Area (GLA) of your property so your taxes reflect the actual square footage — and you can stop overpaying.

Marketing a home or property

A floorplan service can ensure that you're paid fair market value for your house. Living space is one of the biggest factors potential buyers examine when purchasing a home — but since square footage values are often approximated rather than accurately measured, your property listing may reflect less Gross Living Area (GLA) than it can take credit for. An inaccurate GLA not only reduces the selling price of your property, but possibly even the amount of interested buyers. The only dependable method of using a definitive GLA when listing your home is to refer to a previous appraisal or home measurement service completed by an appraiser (after any updating that might have affected square footage).

Material for agents

To ensure that your client's property closes at a price that appropriately reflects market value, we suggest seeking a home measurement of the property. Your clients, and especially potential buyers, will be grateful for your scrupulousness, and you can rest assured knowing the GLA on your client's listing is a true representation of their home. A floorplan can also be an excellent marketing tool to interest potential buyers since they can review the layout and characteristics of the house before and after touring. Get in touch with us to find out more about our floorplan services.