Add Additional Sections to a Building

You can complete most valuations using a single building with a single section. However, there may be cases in which it is beneficial to add additional sections to a building. For example:

  • You are creating a commercial valuation for a building that has a multistory basement. When you enter a basement as the substructure part of a section, it is not possible to enter multiple stories. If you enter the basement as a separate section, enter the number of stories, the gross floor area, and one of the following occupancies:
  • 1001 - Basement, Unfinished
  • 1002 - Basement, Partially Finished
  • 1003 - Basement, Finished
  • 1004 - Basement, Underground Parking

The finish of the occupancy you choose will be applied to all stories.

  • You are creating a commercial valuation for a building that has multiple stories with the following sections: a 3-story section, a 2-story section, and a 1-story section. You can add three sections to the building (one for each storied section). You can also create the valuation by adding multiple occupancies to a section.

Section 1 is a 3-story Store with Apartments Above (3401) with a gross floor area of 15,000 square feet; Section 2 is a 2-story Store with Apartments Above (3401) with a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet; Section 3 is a 2-story Store or Shop, General (3100) with a gross floor area of 2000 square feet. Another issue that can be addressed in this example is if Section 1 and 2 have a basement and Section 3 is built on a slab. One thing to remember is that if you create the valuation this way, you must enter the gross perimeter for each section.

  • You are creating a commercial valuation for a building that has a section that was added at a later date than the original construction. Section 1 is a Church, Average (6105) that was built in 1950; Section 2 is an Educational Wing (6155) that was added 15 years later.
  • You are creating an agricultural valuation for a building that has an office that is not inside of the main building. In this case, Section 1 may be a Stable, High End (301) and Section 2 is a Small Office (604).

These examples are intended to serve as guidelines for creating valuations but there may be multiple ways to create valuations for each building.

To add a section to a building:

  1. If you are not on the Building Insight Summary page, do the following:
  1. On the Valuation dashboard, click a valuation to open it.
  2. On the Property Valuation Summary page, in the List of Locations section, click a location.

    3. If the valuation contains only one location and building, click the Go to building detail icon in the Building Insight Estimate section.

  3. On the Location Summary page, in the List of Buildings section, click a building.
  1. On the Building Insight Summary page, click Add Section.
  2. On the Add Section window, enter the following:
  • Section name
  • Year built (optional)
  • Gross floor area
  1. If you don't know the occupancy code, do the following:

    2. To... Do this...
    Search for an occupancy,
    1. Enter a search term in the Occupancy Code box. Commercial Express displays the occupancies that contain your search term.
    2. Select an occupancy from the list.
    Select an occupancy from a list,
    1. Click the Search Occupancy icon .
    2. Select a category from the Occupancy Group list and then select an occupancy from the Result list.
    3. Click Use Occupancy.

Occupancies determine the material assumptions that will be used for the valuation. You can add a maximum of five occupancies.

  1. Commercial Express enters a default value for the story height. If necessary, change it.
  2. Select a construction type.
  3. Enter the number of stories.
  4. Click Save.