Renters and homeowners need to know how to read a tape measure, especially during the New York City apartment search process. A tape measure is a valuable tool to help measure the size of the room. Tape measures also come in compact sizes, making them easy to transport between apartment showings. Renters must know how to read tape measure markings to ensure they get a proper read for the apartment.
Before embarking on an apartment tour, take time to purchase or borrow a tape measure from a friend. Make this a part of your apartment tour toolkit, and bring it with you to each showing. You’ll have time during the apartment tour to ask a real estate agent or landlord about recording measurements.
What are the Markings on a Tape Measure?
A tape measure is a semi-flexible tape that resides in a canister. When you’re ready to the use the tool, simply pull the edge of the tape measure and pull it forward. Some tape measures are stiff, while others may slide easily. You’ll then notice several lines and numbers across the tape, which may vary in color depending on the manufacturer. In the United States, a standard tape measure typically has a yellow background with most markings in black and a couple of additional markings in red.
Unit of Measurement
The tape measure in the United States measures in feet and inches. Some more detailed tape measures may include yard measurements on the other side. Since most renters typically measure their spaces in feet and inches, this is the primary measurement they can use to determine their space.
Varying Tape Measures
Not all tape measures look the same and may include various markings. Some tape measures may offer fewer fractional inch measurements, omitting the sixteenth inch reading. Other tape measures may offer different colors and personalities, so renters can choose the one that fits their style.
How to Read Tape Measure Markings
Looking at a tape measure for the first time is a bit overwhelming. What are all the markings on a tape measure, and what do they mean? The tape measure measures feet, inches, and fractions of an inch. For every foot on the tape measure, there will be lines denoting each inch. From there, there are additional smaller lines representing the fractions on an inch. A typical tape measure denotes half, quarter, eighths, and sixteenths of inches. The smaller the fraction, the smaller the line on the tape measure.
The image below shows a tape measure that has over eight inches extended. Renters can read the top line to see the inches and fractional markings. There is a bold number on this tape measure to denote each inch. There are varying lines between each marking to denote the fractional inches. The tape measure may not always label these lines, as it would crowd the tape and make it unreadable. However, renters can see the largest line in the center of the inch markings, which indicates the half-inch. From there, they will find the quarter inches as the next largest lines, and so on.
How to Measure an Apartment During a Tour
During the apartment rental process, there are numerous things to consider. One of the most important factors in the size of an apartment is its size. Can the unit comfortably fit furniture without feeling cramped? In New York City, most apartment listings do not include floor plans. Floorplans are expensive to produce, and normally, renters can measure the size of the rooms during the tour. It’s important to bring a tape measure and measure each room to gauge the size and then plan your furniture arrangements if you decide to lease the unit.
Ask the real estate agent or landlord if you can take measurements, and feel free to ask them for help holding the tape measure if needed. In some cases, they may tell you that they already have the measurements for the space. It’s then up to you if you want to verify those measurements yourself.
Rounding to the Half Inch
Renters do not necessarily need to concern themselves with quarter, eighth, and sixteenth inches while measuring during an apartment tour. These fractional measurements will not alter the total square footage of the room, which is what renters most need to know. When measuring for square footage, round to the nearest half-inch to get the best idea of the size of the space.
However, if you know your couch is a little on the larger side or you have an oddly shaped end table, it’s worth getting the most precise measurement of the space where you envision that item living. This is to double-check that the area can actually fit your item. It may be a wise idea to measure the size of the items before you head off on the tour.
Record the Measurements
Bring a notebook or open the notes app on your phone to record your measurements for each room. Carefully organize your notes so that you remember which room is which after the tour. It’s incredibly important to take notes on the measurements if you’re renting with roommates who cannot attend the tour. This is the best chance you have to convey the size of the space with them, in addition to taking photos and videos.
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Conclusion
Measuring the rooms in an apartment is a crucial part of the apartment tour. Renters need to know what they can comfortably fit in their space. Luckily, a tape measure eases this process, and prospective tenants should learn how to read tape measure markings for an apartment tour. During the tour, they can lay out the tape measure in each room and record the markings for every size of the space. These measurements help renters determine which apartment to lease, and once they’ve signed a lease, give an idea of what furniture fits where. Reading a tape measure is an important skill for anyone looking to understand the size of a unit.
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