When entering property characteristics, selecting the correct number of stories is essential to generating an accurate reconstruction valuation. Agents must input the story count for the main dwelling on the Property Review tab in the Agent Portal.
If the dwelling features a unique architectural layout that does not perfectly fit a standard category, select the option that best describes the largest total percentage of the structure.
Story Count Overview
Review the table summarizing each story-count option, its structural layout, and examples.
| Selection | Structural Layout | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| One-story | Living space sits on a single ground level, or uses a split-foyer entry with immediate stairs leading up and down. | Standard ramblers, ranches, and bi-level homes. |
| One-and-a-half story | Main ground floor with a partial, smaller second floor typically situated over one end of the home. | Cape Cods and homes with living lofts. |
| Two-story | Two full, vertically stacked floors or three distinct staggered living levels. | Standard colonials and tri-level homes. |
| Two-and-a-half story | Two full standard floors plus a third level tucked into a steep roofline, often featuring dormers. | Homes with finished attic common areas or bedrooms. |
| Three-story | Three full floors of living space stacked directly on top of each other. | Multi-level townhomes and triple-deckers. |
Detailed Structural Descriptions
One-Story (Includes Rancher / Bi-Level Homes)
This selection applies to traditional single-floor homes where all living spaces sit flush with the ground level.
- Bi-Level Identification: A bi-level home features rooms arranged into staggered upper and lower levels. When entering through the front door, you immediately step onto a central landing area with a split staircase: one set goes directly up to the main living spaces (kitchen, living room, dining room), and another goes down to the lower tier (guest bedrooms, laundry room, family room).
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Left: A one-story home example. Above: The entryway to a bilevel home. |
One-and-a-Half Story
A one-and-a-half-story home features a standard ground floor paired with a smaller second floor. Instead of the upper level being centered over the middle of the house, it is typically shifted or built onto one specific end of the structure.
Two-Story (Includes Tri-Level Homes)
This selection applies to traditional homes featuring two complete, vertically stacked floors of living space.
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Tri-Level Identification: A tri-level home utilizes staggered floor levels similar to a bi-level, but it features three distinct living floors instead of two. These levels typically separate cooking, sleeping, and casual living areas by short half-flights of stairs.
Two-and-a-Half Story
A two-and-a-half-story residence features three total levels of common areas or bedrooms, but the top floor is visually restricted by the roofline. These structures are characterized by steep roof slopes and architectural dormers. Due to the angle of the roof, the top floor's footprint is typically smaller—often half the size—of the ground floor area.
Three-Story
A home featuring three full floors or living levels stacked directly on top of each other, including the ground floor.
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