Next Steps: Assessor Visit

Following your appeal application, some counties schedule an assessor visit to your property. While this visit may deter some homeowners from appealing as it creates extra burden in terms of time and effort, it may be well rewarding as it gives you a chance to prove immediately the condition of your property.

This visit is primarily to confirm that the current condition of your property matches with the county records. The assessor will examine the structural characteristics and the overall condition of your property. Obviously, an assessor does not do a thorough inspection of every system within the property as they do not have the time or resources to dig deeper or tear things apart to examine the quality of your piping system. Instead, this tends to be a quick visit to check the consistency of the property information you presented in your appeal case and discuss the merits of your application..

How much time the visit takes depends on a number of factors including: 1) the size of your property, 2) number of defects / renovations, 3) thoroughness of the inspector, 4) the preparedness of the homeowner. Having a plan in terms of the things you would like to highlight in your property, along with comparable property evidence that you believe would support your case could help to make sure that the assessor visit goes smoothly and your appeal case gets a favorable outcome.

The assessor will take notes to be used in a settlement offer. Accepting this offer would conclude your appeal application and settle the dispute, changing your assessment to the newly adjusted value. You may object this offer which would require you to go through a formal hearing process to make your case.