Cincinnati Appraiser botched my appraisal Square Footage is Significantly Understated

[elodealeaf]

Basically, the title says it. He botched it. I sent it in to have my Property Taxes reassessed as support for my complaint with Hamilton County. Is there anything I can do at this point? I am waiting to hear when my appointment will be to go before the Board or Revisions. He refuses to do anything about it though acknowledges his mistake, just says "good luck". <Moderator edit> is this guy's name.

 

[Calvin the Airedale]

Basically, the title says it. He botched it. I sent it in to have my Property Taxes reassessed as support for my complaint with Hamilton County. Is there anything I can do at this point? I am waiting to hear when my appointment will be to go before the Board or Revisions. He refuses to do anything about it though acknowledges his mistake, just says "good luck". <Moderator Edit> is this goofball's name.

You're going to have to be a little more specific regarding how the appraiser botched your square footage. Too high? Too low? Compared to what?

 

[NORTON]

Basically, the title says it. He botched it. I sent it in to have my Property Taxes reassessed as support for my complaint with Hamilton County. Is there anything I can do at this point? I am waiting to hear when my appointment will be to go before the Board or Revisions. He refuses to do anything about it though acknowledges his mistake, just says "good luck". <Moderator edit> is this guy's name.

Since we don't know with certainty an error has occurred, was it fair to post the appraiser's name on a forum viewable by all? How bout this, post your name as well so if it comes to be that you are also wrong, you can be publicly shamed.

 

[elodealeaf]

I will take full responsibility for any mistatements made herein.

Yes, my name is <Moderator edit>. I'm quite certain there is an error. The two bedrooms upstairs are identical in size and shape. I've measured them before. The sketches and square footage of the house as appraised by 3 different appraisers since 2008 as follows:

2008: at the time of purchase
2009: at the time of refinancing
2011: at the time of my first attempt (partially successful) to get my taxable base reduced

All came back the same. And within 1 foot of what Hamilton County says. All drew accurate sketches of the upstairs. Each bedroom is approximately 400 square foot and the hall/bath adds another 180.

<Moderator edit> drew a sketch showing a large master upstairs and a smaller bedroom..... that is not my house. I've been living here 4 years now.

Mistakes are fine. I first alerted him of this possible mistake a month ago and he refused to do anything. Today, we had another exchange of emails and since I made my last post I will give credit, he did offer to come over and look at the house again.

However, this would have been much-appreciated when I first raised the issue before I had to turn in this appraisal with my complaint.

If all 3 of these other appraisals are incorrect, I am wrong, Hamilton County is wrong and there actually is one large bedroom and one small upstairs in this house, I take full responsibility for making an irresponsible post.

 

[3 Putt]

Double check all the measurements yourself. Hamilton county has been known to be wrong before.
Also, look at the other appraisals, they may have not measured, but just used what the county has on record.
At the time he inspected, did you see him measure?

 

[residentialguy]

What was the square feet of GLA on the other appraisals verses his? (not including basement)

That figure can be found in the middle of the IMPROVEMENTS section on page 1 or in the middle, on the far left hand side of the sales comparison approach on page 2.

 

[elodealeaf]

I have checked the measurements. We actually measured it when we moved in to determine which bedroom may be a master bedroom, they are identical in shape and size, even the closets. each with a "nook" on opposite sides of the house like you see in Cape Cods, but they are geometrical, inverted twins and I understand how to compute square footage. He did the appraisal in January, though I was out of town and really did not look at it until March. I did not watch him measure anything. But just by looking at his sketch and measurements and comparing that to a casual observation of the upstairs, it is easy to conclude there is a problem. But I have verified that the first 3 appraisers were correct by measuring myself.

I don't go on websites like this and ask for advice, what I really need is advice as the BOR will surely question the discrepancy in square footage and square footage is the basis for his market valuation (which is really hard in my neighborhood as the houses are so different) given the "comps"... he had to use.

His appraisal is 10% higher than how it appraised a year ago w/o a single improvement. I wish that were reality.

But I don't call people out like this without good reason and I don't know if I remember doing it ever before. What I really need is advice as to what to do now.

I made this post soliciting advice. Thanks - Jeff

 

[residentialguy]

Pleae answer the question. What was the square feet of GLA on the other appraisals verses his measured GLA???

He's a Certified General, ASA with 20 years experience...he's no newbie trainee. What makes you think that his is 10% high rather than the prior appraisal was 10% low?

 

[elodealeaf]

He's at 2,214 living area (excludes unfinished basement)

Other appraisers are either 2,394 or 2,395. Ham County is 2,394.

 

[residentialguy]

He's at 2,214 living area (excludes unfinished basement)

Other appraisers are either 2,394 or 2,395. Ham County is 2,394.

good...few more questions.

What is his appraised value of the house?

Do you have a 3 or 4 season porch?