RAA Property Description 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which foundation type is most commonly found in warm climates with stable soil conditions and is built directly on a concrete slab poured at grade?
- Crawl space foundation
- Slab-on-grade foundation (Correct answer)
- Full basement foundation
- Pier and beam foundation
Correct answer: Slab-on-grade foundation
Slab-on-grade foundations are poured directly on the ground and are common in warm climates where frost depth is not a concern.
Question 2: In residential appraisal, 'gross living area' (GLA) typically excludes which of the following?
- Second-floor bedrooms
- Finished basement rooms (Correct answer)
- Main-floor living room
- Attached garage converted to living space meeting all requirements
Correct answer: Finished basement rooms
Finished basement space is generally excluded from GLA because it is below grade, regardless of how well it is finished.
Question 3: An appraiser notes a property has a 'hip roof.' How does a hip roof differ from a gable roof?
- Hip roofs have two sloping sides; gable roofs slope on all four sides
- Hip roofs slope on all four sides; gable roofs have two sloping sides and two vertical ends (Correct answer)
- Hip roofs are flat; gable roofs are peaked
- Hip roofs use metal panels; gable roofs use shingles
Correct answer: Hip roofs slope on all four sides; gable roofs have two sloping sides and two vertical ends
A hip roof slopes downward on all four sides to the walls, while a gable roof has two sloping sides and two triangular vertical ends called gables.
Question 4: When describing a property's 'topography,' an appraiser is referring to:
- The type of soil under the structure
- The shape, slope, and contour of the land (Correct answer)
- The legal description of the parcel boundaries
- The proximity to flood plains
Correct answer: The shape, slope, and contour of the land
Topography refers to the physical characteristics of the land surface including its slope, contour, elevation changes, and shape.
Question 5: A property description notes 'T-111 siding.' What material is this?
- Thin brick veneer panels
- Plywood or OSB panel siding with vertical grooves (Correct answer)
- Fiber cement lap siding
- EIFS synthetic stucco
Correct answer: Plywood or OSB panel siding with vertical grooves
T-111 (also written T1-11) is a plywood or OSB sheet siding product with vertical grooves that simulate board-and-batten or plank siding.
Question 6: Which term describes a window style where the sash opens outward on a hinge at the side, like a door?
- Double-hung window
- Casement window (Correct answer)
- Awning window
- Jalousie window
Correct answer: Casement window
A casement window is hinged at the side and swings outward to open, providing full ventilation of the opening.
Question 7: In a property description, 'effective age' differs from 'actual age' because effective age reflects:
- The year the building permit was issued
- The condition and utility of the improvements relative to similar properties (Correct answer)
- The depreciated cost of the structure
- The age reported on the tax assessor's records
Correct answer: The condition and utility of the improvements relative to similar properties
Effective age reflects how old a property appears based on its condition, maintenance, and updates, which may be less or more than its actual chronological age.
RAA Property Description 2
Which foundation type is most commonly found in warm climates with stable soil conditions and is built directly on a concrete slab poured at grade?