Gp Residential Appraisal

[M Tafuni]

Do You Think It Is Etical To Do An General Purpose Appraisal On Your Property For A Tax Appeal

 

[Ken B]

Could an appraiser remain unbiased regarding the results of an appraisal performed on their own property? Theoretically, it is possible. Realistically, I'm not so sure.

 

[George Hatch]

I'd imagine that your tax assessor allows you as a property owner to submit data in support of a tax appeal. Just because you hold an appraisal license and know more about how to do it properly doesn't preclude you from exercising your rights as a property owner.

The main thing is to not misrepresent your role. If you're acting as the property owner you are not expected to be unbiased, but by the same token you should not be creating unrealistic expectations for impartiality by portraying your role as that of an appraiser or portraying your work as an appraisal. Don't use the word, don't use the forms and don't be surprised if they decide to do their own appraisal in rebuttal.

 

[c w d]

Doesn't USPAP address whether an appraiser can appraise a property if there is a personal interest? I think it's one of the required certifications that the appraiser DOES NOT have a personal interest. But, hell, I haven't done an appraisal in so long I just don't remember the specifics.

If it doesn't address whether one can appraise a property where one has a personal interest then it most assuredly requires disclosure of the interest. In this case, I would assume it would be up to the reader to decide it is was an unbiased opinion. But, I'm leaning more towards the certification above.

Regardless, USPAP does address the situation in some manner so break it out, dust the cover and look into it.

 

[Ken B]

An appraiser may have an interest in the property or the parties if that interest is disclosed. An appraiser may not be biased.

GH has the best response, as usual.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

Do You Think It Is Etical To Do An General Purpose Appraisal On Your Property For A Tax Appeal

Not unethical, but likely unproductive. I found out a long time ago that I can impeach the assessor's work much easier than I can "appraise" for tax relief. The fact is that the Assessor and the B of Equalization are biased against appraisals. The IAAO even teaches a course to assessor on how to impeach YOUR reports...
Check their facts... age? Size? quality? Did any of it change from the previous inspection? FOI all the records for the past 10 years for your property. Also check their Comps. I found a number of rural properties that they were valuing by using ONE sale...

 

[Mike Boyd]

I would just use the grid page(s) to support what you feel is the current market value. In your appeal you can imply the value which is supported by the grid page. In CA the tax is based on land value separately from the improved value. Therefore, you might want to include two grids....one for the house AND land and one for the land only. I did that back in the 1991 melt down and the assessor accepted my opinion of value and lowered the taxes right away. They went back up, slowly, as the market improved.

 

[Walter Kirk]

As long as you disclose your interest you have complied with ethics rules. Be sure to edit out any pre printed certifications which state that you have no interest in the property. Since you are doing this for a tax appeal you should also tell the assessor, commissioner or judge that you are an appraiser before discussing your report.