Web Sketch: How to create Area Definitions
A practical Web Sketch guide for appraisers based on the How to create Area Definitions tutorial.
Use this article when you are working in Web Sketch and need a practical reference while building or reviewing a sketch for a report. The video walkthrough is linked below, and the article restates the workflow in appraiser-friendly terms.
Watch the tutorial
Before you begin
Open the correct report and confirm you are sketching the intended subject, dwelling, unit, or related structure. If the sketch will support GLA, exhibits, or report commentary, keep your field notes, measurements, photos, and assignment requirements available while you work.
What this tutorial covers
- How to assign area definitions so sketch calculations and labels are meaningful.
- The sidebar is the main work area for drawing features, labels, tools, and sketch settings.
- Labels and custom labels clarify what each shape or area represents.
When to use this
Use area definitions when a drawn shape needs to be classified for calculations, reporting, or exhibit clarity.
Video walkthrough in article form
Start in the correct sketch context
In this video, this walkthrough will talk about area definitions in Sketch.
Check each shape before moving on
If you are watching the previous video, you are going to notice here that as soon as I close a shape, this pop-up modal prompted me to define this whole area.
Now you see the workspace has these different options here for, For example, you can choose this area is an above grade, and already it is going to have the context of which unit this belongs to.
Because I only have one unit right now, it is going to choose one unit. But if I had two, this would also prompt you to select either or. But if it is a porch or a patio, obviously it doesn't belong to a unit, and you can choose a garage or miscellaneous and so on.
Choose this is an above grade, and For example, it is on a level one, and its type is finished. If you want to define this area completely here, you will see that you can select this Confirm button and it will be there.
Work from the sidebar
Also you can see here on this sidebar at any time, all the shapes that you are going to be defining are also going to be going in here right away as well.
Label the sketch clearly
For example, I wanted to go and change this definition, and I don't really like this or I don't agree with this anymore. You can simply just zoom in here and you can find that these three dots here, you can just click that, edit the label, and now you can choose something different. You know, maybe it is a below grade, I think.
Now it is below grade, belongs to unit one, level B1, and it is, um, For example, it is unfinished. Now when I do that, you can see in our sidebar that's being reflected in real time and you can select Confirm and now that's how I've defined it.
Now for any reason if you are going to be defining an area, For example, that you, you didn't want to do it right away, you can just do an example here.
For example, I draw a shape here, something really simple.
If I don't want to define this area right now because maybe I don't know what it is yet, you can select this X button to cancel out of it and it is left undefined, and you will also see that it is not really going to show here.
If I do want to define this shape, you can simply just right-click into here, Define Area, and it'll pop up that same modal where you can then go and redefine this however you want.
Choose Above Grade, Level One, Finished, and there we go. Press Confirm and now I have two shapes that have been defined
Practical workflow
Select the completed shape and assign the correct area definition, such as the relevant living area, garage, porch, patio, or other report-supported category.
Use definitions consistently across the sketch so the calculation panel separates areas in a way that matches the report.
Review totals after assigning definitions. If a shape has the wrong definition, the visual exhibit may look acceptable while the calculated support is wrong.
Field review tips
Area definitions should reflect appraisal reporting intent, not just drawing convenience.
Appraiser review checklist
- Confirm the sketch is attached to the correct report and property structure.
- Confirm labels, areas, and totals match your field notes and intended report use.
- Confirm any generated exhibit is readable before relying on it in the report.
- Recheck the report section where the exhibit or calculated area appears.
Related Web Sketch tutorials
This article is part 4 of 14 in the Web Sketch tutorial series. Use the Help Center search for web sketch to find the other drawing, labeling, calculation, and exhibit guides.