I Need Your Ideas

[Walter Kirk]

I attended the first meeting of the N.J. Coalition of Valuation Consultants last week and I was put on the issues committee. We are trying to identify issues which the coalition should address. I have my own ideas but I would like the input of other N.J. appraisers. What do you think should be done on the state level?

 

[NJ Valuator]

Swifter more serious punishment for crooked appraisers. Perhaps some statewide review program.

 

[BarbaraNJ]

Walter,

You know that appraisers "live and die" by the information available to them.

Specifically, municipal information is very important and valuable in arriving at a credible and correct value.

Before last years' Open Public Records Act, you know that some assessors were very helpful, and some threw you out of the office as soon as you walked in.

Now, they have to give you the information if you request it, but there is still a very wide range of cooperation from town to town.

I find that some towns are a bit more open with the new law, but there is one (so far) town I know of that demands that you make an application in writing. If you want living area of your comp homes, you have to make the request on their form, wait until they call you (they legally have 7 days) and go back to the municipal building and pay for the information.

The payment is small, but most lenders don't want to hear that their appraisal will take 10 days because you are waiting for town information.

What I would like to see is a consistent policy for professionals seeking information. I would be happy to show my State Appraiser License to the Assessor to verify that I am not seeking information for any bad/illegal/immoral purposes.

I will be thinking of other issues, but this is has been an annoyance for 15 years or more.

Thanks for your concern.

 

[NJ Valuator]

I totally agree with Barbara. There needs to be a consistency with the availability of data provided by the tax assessor's offices.

 

[Rick Kulman]

Barbara

You are 100% correct. SF data should be readily available without having to wait 7 days.

The SR1A's on file at the assessor's offices have a space for the SF area and should be filled in by the assessor as the form is completed. A copy of the completed form is then sent to the County Tax Board and should be on file there as well.

I know Walter and Frank will make this issue known at our next coalition meeting.

Rick

 

[moe cohen]

I agree with others and would like to add to the list, rent registration information for rent controlled buildings. The names of tenants can be taken out but we need the information to determine value and leased fee estate.
Moe Cohen

 

[Frank Lostracco]

I agree with the rest, information needs to be available online. Some of the forms that we see online have the spaces for year built, square footage but are blank.