Needing your home measured? Let First Security help.

Home remodels and poor valuations on public records will affect a property's price — and its attractiveness to potential buyers. Let us give you a reliable measurement of property dimensions to establish a fair, unbiased value when acquiring a property, selling to potential clients, or minimizing property taxes.

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What is a measurement or floorplan service?

A home measurement service is just what it sounds like: An appraiser measures the dimensions and square footage of the property, then draws a basic or highly detailed floorplan based on your needs. The appraiser's report and floorplan is a document that can be used to prove the precise Gross Living Area (GLA), the sum of all livable space, of your home. These services are useful and sometimes essential when challenging property taxes or selling a property.

How does a home measurement or floorplan service work?

During a measurement service, an appraiser measures your property with a measuring tool — generally a tape measure or laser measuring device. As they move around the home, they notate the layout of the rooms and other features, like stairs, hallways, and pantries. They may sketch out the property. Then, the appraiser types up a report and a more detailed sketch showing the total living area and the overall layout of the house. The finished report is a document that can be used to prove certain details about your property — like the Gross Living Area (GLA) — on tax documentation, home listings, and more.

When should I get a floorplan service?

Challenging real estate taxes

Tax records often reflect incorrect square footage because the values can come from various sources, and sometimes go unverified — meaning you may be taxed for more square footage than you have! Unless a certified appraiser has recently performed an evaluation on your property (after any updating that may have affected square footage), you'll need an appraiser to perform a measurement service before challenging your taxes. An appraiser will determine the accurate Gross Living Area (GLA) of your property so your taxes reflect your actual square footage — and you can stop paying more than your property is worth.

Selling a listing

A home floorplan service will ensure that you're paid fair market value for your property. Living space is one of the most important elements potential buyers consider when purchasing a house — but since these values are frequently approximated rather than properly measured, your listing might reflect less Gross Living Area (GLA) than it actually has. An inaccurate GLA not only reduces the selling price of your property, but possibly even the amount of interested buyers. The only sure method of using a definitive GLA when listing your property is to refer to a previous appraisal or measurement service performed by a certified appraiser (after any updating that may have affected square footage).

For agents

To ensure that your client's property sells at a price that properly reflects true market value, we recommend requesting a floorplan service for the property. Your clients, and potential buyers, will appreciate your attentiveness, and you can be certain that the GLA on your client's listing is truly representative of their home. A measurement can also be a wonderful marketing tool for getting potential buyers interested because they can view the layout and details of the house before and after touring. Get in touch with us to find out more about our measurement services.