The American Measurement Standard is an authoritative measurement standard for use with single-family
dwellings. The AMS 2020 edition is a voluntary guide developed for the measurement, calculation, and communication of
square footage
The square foot (plural square feet; abbreviated sq. ft, sf, or ft2; also denoted by '2) is an imperial unit and U.S. customary unit (non- SI, non-metric) of area, used mainly in the United States and partially in Canada, the United Kingdom, Bang ...
in
residential
A residential area is a land used in which housing predominates, as opposed to industrial and commercial areas.
Housing may vary significantly between, and through, residential areas. These include single-family housing, multi-family residen ...
dwellings.
Description
This standard defines eight specific categories for the reporting of all space associated with a residential dwelling. The AMS helps to establish common and logical definitions of "finished square footage" and "gross living area." The
methodology
In its most common sense, methodology is the study of research methods. However, the term can also refer to the methods themselves or to the philosophical discussion of associated background assumptions. A method is a structured procedure for bri ...
of the American Measurement Standard was compiled and edited by a consensus of real estate professionals including
real estate agents
A real estate agent or real estate broker is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and agen ...
,
appraiser
An appraiser (from Latin ''appretiare'', "to value"), is a person that develops an opinion of the market value or other value of a product, most notably real estate.
The current definition of "appraiser" according to the Uniform Standards of Pro ...
s, assessors, home builders and
architects
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
, and is based on the exterior dimensions of a dwelling. The AMS contains over three times more specific home measurement details than any other square footage guideline and includes numerous illustrations and examples. The standard provides acceptable square footage calculations for use in residential
mortgage
A mortgage loan or simply mortgage (), in civil law jurisdicions known also as a hypothec loan, is a loan used either by purchasers of real property to raise funds to buy real estate, or by existing property owners to raise funds for any pu ...
appraisals, and provides acceptable measurements for mortgage lenders. The principles and practices detailed in the standard have been used for generations in professional appraisal reports.
References
* Thomas, David Hampton (2009). ''The American Measurement Standard''. .
*''Size Matters-Residential Square Footage''. and
*''How to Measure a House''. {{ISBN, 978-1456491987.
*''Realtor Magazine''. "In Search of A Standard." September 2008.
Approved for use by the Mississippi Appraisal Board. January 2019.
*Continuing education course in Home Measurement Basics (based on the AMS) approved by the Arizona and California Appraisal Boards (2010).
Part of the course ANSI, Home Measurement & the Power of Price-Per-Square-Foot. www.Appraserelearning.com 2019.
https://web.archive.org/web/20081024100642/http://www.realtor.org/rmonews_and_commentary/opinion/0809commentarysquarefootage
*Realtor University – Webinar Series Size Matters Based on the AM
Real estate in the United States