Posted on 07/08/2014 12:41:00 PM PDT by PizzaTheHut
Is it common for property reassessments to include an interior inspection by a contracted agency? I guess it's no big deal, but what actual right do they have to enter my home? I have not broken any laws, nor am I asking for some zoning permission where I need approval.
Just wondering if anyone else's town/city has done this?
Land value should be the only thing they tax, IMO.
Why should someone that improves the appearance of their home or improves a plot or improves anything on a piece of land be penalized for it with very much higher taxes?
Detroit is the perfect example of what happens when the physical expression of civilization is taxed into oblivion (not to mention taxing the human expression of civilization with income taxes).
-PJ
An appraiser needs access to the inside of the house to asses any improvements made to he interior. Upgrades add value. Do you want an accurate appraisal or don’t you? He isn’t there to snoop.
Property possession shouldn’t be taxed, period.
This infringes on your unalienable right to property, because they can simply take it from you if you can’t pay the tribute every year.
A head tax is the only justifiable tax.
I live on Long Island (NY) and once I had two guys from the town knock on my door and ask me for permission to enter my house for an inspection and I politely refused. I had just made some upgrades and I didn’t feel like being “punished” for it.
Well, they said, “We are allowed to come in,” to which I responded, “Show me a warrant.” They said that they didn’t have one but could come back with one. I encouraged them to, “Go for it.”
It’s been 12 years and they haven’t been back yet.
An appraiser needs access to the inside of the house to asses any improvements made to he interior. Upgrades add value. Do you want an accurate appraisal or don’t you? He isn’t there to snoop.
Yes he IS there to snoop..
I don’t recall the OP mentioning any permits pulled for improvements.
And this is not an appraisal for the sale of the home. it’s an appraisal for the taxable value of the home, something they almost always inflate way past market value.
Good question. And on the other hand, why should someone who has let their property decline and depreciate get by with a lower assessment? They should be taxed as if their property was in good condition.
Perhaps it is time to organize petitions, protests and a healthy citizen turnout at town board meetings. They are wasting your money in order to get even more of your money. Just a thought.
I have never heard of anything like this.
Looks like its SOP in your state...but it strikes me as crazy.
Yes, but we don’t have to let them in.
(2) When conducting a revaluation, an assessor shall use generally accepted mass appraisal methods which may include, but need not be limited to, the market sales comparison approach to value, the cost approach to value and the income approach to value. Prior to the completion of each revaluation, the assessor shall conduct a field review. Except in a town that has a single assessor, the members of the board of assessors shall approve, by majority vote, all valuations established for a revaluation.
(3) An assessor, member of an assessor's staff or person designated by an assessor may, at any time, fully inspect any parcel of improved real property in order to ascertain or verify the accuracy of data listed on the assessor's property record for such parcel. Except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection, the assessor shall fully inspect each such parcel once in every ten assessment years, provided, if the full inspection of any such parcel occurred in an assessment year preceding that commencing October 1, 1996, the assessor shall fully inspect such parcel not later than the first day of October of 2009, and shall thereafter fully inspect such parcel in accordance with this section. Nothing in this subsection shall require the assessor to fully inspect all of a town's improved real property parcels in the same assessment year and in no case shall an assessor be required to fully inspect any such parcel more than once during every ten assessment years.
(4) An assessor may, at any time during the period in which a full inspection of each improved parcel of real property is required, send a questionnaire to the owner of such parcel to (A) obtain information concerning the property's acquisition, and (B) obtain verification of the accuracy of data listed on the assessor's property record for such parcel. An assessor shall develop and institute a quality assurance program with respect to responses received to such questionnaires. If satisfied with the results of said program concerning such questionnaires, the assessor may fully inspect only those parcels of improved real property for which satisfactory verification of data listed on the assessor's property record has not been obtained and is otherwise unavailable. The full inspection requirement in subdivision (3) of this subsection shall not apply to any parcel of improved real property for which the assessor obtains satisfactory verification of data listed on the assessor's property record.
Thanks for the post stremba, I am in Pa as well. Just got a school tax bill for over $5100.
Many cities will ask - but your not required to allow them inside. However, if you don’t allow them then many will assess at the highest rate assuming all the bells and whistles.
This was considered in Houston about 25 years ago. Everything inside subject to property tax, including clothing. That went nowhere.
I told them no, they could not enter. I accompanied them on their inspection and only allowed them to look at the house from outside (I work from home). I did not allow them anywhere near windows. I refused to allow them to video anything.
Did the same thing with the census takers. Didn't give them information I thought was none of their business.
FReegards!
God Bless TEXAS!!!!
It looks like we live in a third world country!
They can always ask and you can always decline. Then look at your assessment to make sure they didn’t click marble floors and waterfalls.
Where did you get the idea that it's "your" house?
It's their house. They want to inspect their property.
End of story.
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