How Are Floor Plans Measured

What’s the Difference Between Professional Floor Plans, Matterport Floor Plans, and Scanned Drafter Floor Plans?

At Open Homes, we offer several floor plan options to fit different goals, budgets, and levels of detail.

Professional Floor Plans (ANSI Measured)

Our Professional Floor Plan service is the traditional, in-person drafting option.

A qualified draftsperson visits the property and takes physical measurements using precision tools. These plans are created in accordance with ANSI standards, making them our most accurate floor plan option.

Key Features:

• Highly accurate property layout
• Room dimensions available upon request
• Square footage calculations available upon request
• Option to include measured non-living spaces (closets, decks, etc.) upon request

Because we charge based on what is measured, including additional non-living areas may move the project into a higher pricing tier.

Best for:
Clients who need reliable square footage and precise measurements for listings, appraisals, or compliance purposes.

Matterport Floor Plans (Marketing Schematic)

Matterport Floor Plans are generated directly from a Matterport 3D scan of the property.

Since these plans are created from camera data rather than physical measuring tools, they are not created using ANSI standards and cannot guarantee measurement accuracy.

Key Features:

• Clean, professional layout for marketing use
• No room dimensions
• No square footage calculations
• Interior closets, storage, and non-living spaces are not included by default

Detached or additional areas (like garages, decks, or ADUs) can be added for $50 per additional scanned space, as long as those areas are included during the Matterport scan.

Best for:
Clients who already ordered a Matterport tour and want a low-cost visual layout for marketing — not for measurement verification.

Scanned Drafter Floor Plans

The Scanned Drafter Floor Plan is similar in style to the Matterport version but does not require a Matterport scan.

It is often one of our most budget-friendly options and is designed primarily as a visual layout tool.

Key Features:

• Clear layout of the home
• Room dimensions included
• No square footage calculations
• Not created using ANSI measurement standards

Best for:
Clients who want an affordable floor plan with room sizes shown, but do not need official square footage.

When Are Floor Plans Scheduled?

All floor plan types — Professional, Matterport, and Scanned Drafter — are typically scheduled at the same time as other services for the property.

However, Professional Floor Plans offer more flexibility. Because they rely on physical measurements rather than photography or scanning conditions, they can be completed even if work is happening at the property, such as cleaning, inspections, staging, or light construction.

Why Floor Plan Square Footage May Differ from Tax Records

It’s common for floor plan square footage to differ from what appears in public tax records.

Often, tax record numbers originate from building permit estimates created before construction begins, and there may be no formal re-measurement after the project is completed. In other cases, unpermitted additions or modifications may not be reflected in tax data.

When our technicians measure a home, it may be the first time the property has been measured in its current condition using precision tools. Measurements are taken carefully and reviewed for accuracy. That said, human errors like typos can occasionally happen. If you believe something may be incorrect, you can request a measurement review by the drafter.

How Are Professional Floor Plans Measured?

Professional Floor Plans are measured by a technician using a laser measurer and tape measure inside the home.

In accordance with ANSI standards, all measurements are rounded to the nearest inch. Every room, closet, stairwell, and interior space is measured. Square footage is calculated by tracing the perimeter of these spaces as a whole.

What’s included in square footage:

• All living areas
• Interior walls
• Closets

Measurement method depends on property type:

• Condos/Apartments: Measured from the interior wall perimeter
• Detached homes (own foundation and roof): Measured from the exterior perimeter

Important Note:
Our floor plans are diagrammatic and intended to show the layout of the structure along with a reasonable estimate of square footage. The calculations provided reflect our draftsperson’s measurements but should not be considered authoritative or legally conclusive. We also have no way of verifying how any previous square footage figures were determined.

Quick Comparison

In short:
Choose Professional Floor Plans for the highest level of accuracy and square footage.
Choose Matterport Floor Plans for a simple marketing layout alongside a 3D tour.
Choose Scanned Drafter Floor Plans for an affordable layout that includes room dimensions.