The Westport Assessor’s Office said today letters will go out next week to residents whose homes were either unavailable to revaluation inspectors or who refused an initial interior inspection.
“The interior inspection of the property is essential in order to properly appraise the market value,” Assessor William Gaffney said in a news release.
He said inspectors from Vision Appraisal Technology in conjunction with his office are continuing the physical inspections of all Westport properties as part of the revaluation update.
“Presently field personnel are inspecting properties south of I-95 and north of the Merritt Parkway,” Gaffney said.
“The week of Sept. 4 residents who were unavailable or refused an interior inspection will begin receiving letters to contact Vision Appraisal for appointments.
“The letters will be mailed by section of town beginning with the east side. ”
A revaluation should not be based upon how nice the interior of one’s home may be versus another. It should be entirely based upon structure and not on how well decorated or kept after the home is. There is absolutely no reason for interior inspection for part of this process. There has been enough real estate turnover the past few years where adequate comps should exist making this unnecessary. I will continue to refuse interior inspection and suggest others do the same.
However – unless it is a tear down, people buy houses based on the interiors – is it air-conditioned, how old are the kitchens and baths, etc – I was happy to have an interior inspection to show the appraisers that our house could not be properly valued by using comps of other houses in the neighborhood that have sold recently
In response to Stacy Prince—Appraisal is not a science; it’s an art. However, both appraisals and assessments are similar in that they try to determine the Fair Market Value of a property—tht is, the most probable price a property would sell for after exposure on the open market. In a world of teardowns, this has been thrown out of whack. The things you listed—square footage, location, acreage, number of baths, etc., are part of the process. But the interior condition is a big determinant of the value of a property.
But do the “appraisers” consider property may be non-conforming to zoning, have non-conforming septic with very expensive or impossible to permit expansion? property abutting commercial zone ?
All such factors should be considered when determining Fair Market Value.
Speaking as a first time home owner this whole business of interior inspection seems outrageous. If I decide to upgrade my bathroom I’ll pay the town permit fees, town inspection fees, state sales tax and tax to the contractor. Why should the town levy more? Footage, acreage, location, etc. as Stacy points out should be enough. If and when I do sell my home then the buyer and the town can come and appraise. Perhaps just before the next town appraisal I should allow my property to become rundown inside and out, put a few old cars on cider blocks in the front yard, don’t mow the lawn and let the dogs do their business indoors. Then my taxes might be lower and since I’ve created an undesirable place to live, I will have done my neighbors a favor by lowering their town’s property appraisal as well.
I agree with Enough taxes already…why should a homeowner who has invested in their home bear the brunt of the taxes for those that choose to not invest in their homes? Any major improvements to one’s home are already on file with P&Z and the town in the form of building permits. I would think this should be sufficient. The fact that one prefers granite to formica should not impact the tax consequences of one structure vs. another.
To: “An annoyed homeowner”—as a Residential Real Estate Appraiser, I can only state that you obviously don’t understand the valuation process. The interior of a house has a definite effect upon its value. For one thing, the condition of the improvements, and for another, how recently the Kitchen and Baths have been updated. It’s not a question of “decorating,” but the maintenance is certainly a factor. From what I know of reval companies, if they are not permitted to enter the house, they will value it as high as possible. It is in your best interest to have an interior inspection.
Oh, these small-minded comments give Westport such a bad name. Taxes are what we pay for wonderful schools, many amenities, fascinating programs at the library and elsewhere about the arts and literature, and a naturally beautiful location, and the revals just level the playing field so every house is based on Fair Market Value. If you don’t want an interior inspection, as everyone else is having, just move far away where taxes are almost non-existent.
Have you all been watching the news lately? How can you be debating about something like this when millions of people in New Orleans and other cities in the south no longer have houses? Please, stop being so selfish and bickering about the money you have to shell out for your taxes when these people have absolutely NOTHING left. Many are left without the neccessities, such as food and water, yet you’re currently more worried about your taxes and house appraisels? I may be a kid, but I currently have a better grasp on reality and priorities than most adults in this forum.
Listen to the kid! A lot of people often said Westport is in a world of it’s own…And I have to admit it is true. A town filled with very selfish people, not ALL but most!
Westporters will never be happy always wanting more, and to much dismay even at the cost of others. Most really don’t care about anyone except themselves and feel the need to show people how successful they become (McMansions). What they fail to realize is again most NOT ALL, have become successful at the generosity of their parents and/or grandparents and even then wouldn’t acknowledge that. In my eyes and in the eyes of a lot of other people that makes them deceitful. If they can’t acknowledge that, how can one expect them to realize the devistation in our country let alone the world?
I would love to see how the town residents would be for one week without electricity, let alone no water, no home, no NOTHING…They would find a way to cast the blame on someone and try to capitalize on it…
I don’t know who “reality check” is, but it is obvious that your parents did a fine job raising you…You have it kid, do yourself a favor NEVER lose it.
Reality Check #2
Appraisal is an inexact science—subjective at best. Not only do fashions change over time, but one appraiser might prefer marble to granite counters or paint to wallpaper and “price” accordingly. Since the companies who appraise often mess up (cf. Ryan) and aren’t the ones who have to live with their assessments, I think most of us would prefer something more objective: square footage; acreage; location; date (not style) of bath and kitchen renovations; number of bathrooms; number of garage spaces; number of “extras” such as fireplaces, jacuzzis, or other built-in luxuries; overall condition of structure (excellent to poor). If you’re going to do a real-estate sales type of appraisal (“comps”), be fair and assess the property and the house separately. Many houses are worth nothing: the winning buyers are spec builders who just tear them down.
To: Reality check – I think it’s fair to say that your “grasp on reality” comes from the fact that you have never had to pay taxes, and when you want to buy something, you simply ask your parents for the money to do it. Stop grandstanding, kid, then when you get a job, and buy a house, you can then join the ranks of the complaining taxed masses. You will know what it feels like to watch huge chunks of money going out the door to pay for things like social security that will be bankrupt by the time you need it. Awesome! Now, that’s a reality check.
Snowboarder-
Not that I should have to justify myself to you, but I have had jobs (where money was taken out of my weekly check for taxes, of course) and I have earned my own money. If i want something, I buy it for myself, I don’t go running to “mommy and daddy” for it. I may live in Westport, but that doesn’t mean you know me or my situation. So I haven’t had to pay taxes yet, that doesn’t mean I don’t see how taxes can greatly affect a family economically. Don’t assume that I fit your stereotype of the typical Westport teen, because you know how the saying goes when you assume things. I know taxes are a hard thing, and I know everyone has their different opinions about it. I don’t doubt that you are a hard working individual. I was simply trying to get my point across about how much more people in the South are suffering than hard working individuals who pay taxes suffer. Did you get to have a nice, warm shower this morning? Well guess what, millions in the South were denied that luxury (yes, it would be considered a luxury to them at this moment in time) today, and probably will be for the coming days. At least you still have your snowboard, when they don’t even have food.
Reality Check #2- Thank you very much for your comments, I greatly appreciate them.