Discovery of a dbl wd on a basement

[Willing to Learn]

I am a tax assessor, and was asked if our data was correct regarding a stick built home on a basement- by a bank's appraiser. I visited the property and quickly established that the home was in fact, a manufactured home on a basement- with bilco door, a spiral steps to lower level, id tags, the rail structures, and even axle cut offs still evident from basement. Sadly, I lowered the tax assessment, and now the homeowner is upset because the value is diminished and loan apps are not good. We may be doing our jobs- but when we find things that affect value, we can cause a lot of hurt. Very upsetting to me.

 

[residentialguy]

Explain to him that the assessment value has nothing to do with an appraised value. That is a separate, unbiased opinion of value that is not based upon Assessed value. Tell him that he can write out a check for more money towards taxes, if that makes him feel better.

 

[Pilgrum]

I wonder who (whom?) provided that data that caused it to be taxed as a stick built to begin with.

 

[CANative]

Why would you be upset. Your function is to establish MV for purposes of ad valorem taxes. You don't have a dog in that race. Now the guy will pay lower taxes and knows what he's got.

It's likely a "Frankentrailer" at this point and will be ineligible for most loan programs.

 

[Mike Kennedy]

I am a tax assessor, and was asked if our data was correct regarding a stick built home on a basement- by a bank's appraiser. I visited the property and quickly established that the home was in fact, a manufactured home on a basement- with bilco door, a spiral steps to lower level, id tags, the rail structures, and even axle cut offs still evident from basement. Sadly, I lowered the tax assessment, and now the homeowner is upset because the value is diminished and loan apps are not good. We may be doing our jobs- but when we find things that affect value, we can cause a lot of hurt. Very upsetting to me.

"I lowered the tax assessment,"
When they get their next tax bill, you will be their "hero". Take the Good with the "Bad" .....it is what it is.

It also was what it was, will you also be rebating their paid taxes retro to the date the improvement was erroneously recorded by the Municipality?

 

[Jo Ann Meyer Stratton]

You did your job correctly. The information that the property is a manufactured home is really important to many people for many different reasons. I certainly hope that any time that property has been financed, the appraisers reported it on a 1004C and identified it as a manufactured home. But available financing for the property is not your problem and it should not affect you. Truth has to be truth.

 

[Walter Kirk]

I discovered a doublewide on a basement when I was appraising a property for a tax appeal in central Jersey. The house had new siding and windows and the owner had no idea that he bought a moble home. To add insult to injury I informed the client that his outbuilding was a pole barn with no foundation. The tax assessor didn't like it but he was forced to lower the assessment.

 

[Joyce Potts]

Hey - look at the bright side. It could have been a two-story, double wide built in 1972, basement and oversized/upgraded/pool/spa/waterfall, 5-stall, state- of-the-art equestrian facilities (heated and cooled of horse) with equine birthing room on 30 acres with three sink holes--slated for eminent domain due to a proposed highway or bridge to somewhere and inhabited by a environmentalist (tree hugger) and bird species on the endangered list.

Feeling any better?

 

[Scott R Marshall]

How much you want to bet that within the next 12 months, this same homeowner will be raising some type of complaint regarding how he has been over-assessed and paying too much in taxes all these years.

It's literally impossible to win in these situations. I applaud you for doing the right thing but when it comes to people, their wealth, and taxes on that wealth, you have quite a poisonous cocktail. Hope you have the stomach for it.

 

[CANative]

How much you want to bet that within the next 12 months, this same homeowner will be raising some type of complaint regarding how he has been over-assessed and paying too much in taxes all these years.

I would encourage that tax payer to do so.