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I'm starting a new gig

Slammed with assessment work. After a while the assessors get to know you and will actually appreciate you if you do a good job....and most of the assessors are not licensed appraisers at least around here.
 
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I've done a lot of those over the years. The appeal resulted in an assessed value very close to my appraisal in nearly all instances. I liked them.

Biggest change was due to an increased assessment from $5M to $7.5M in one year for an apartment complex. My appraisal was $5.2M and they lowered it to $5.5M, owner was satisfied.
I don't mind them. Higher fees but more difficult. I do well if they ever go to court but they usually settle, typically because I've put together a solid report and lawyers are expensive. Tax tribunal typically falls into three categories, weird like the digester I just did, severely depreciated where there is a highest and best use question or overimproved where cost is higher than value.
 
There isn’t a single licensed appraiser in my county’s assessor office. Everything goes by state driven, instruction book formulae, often resulting in an assessed value that has little basis in reality.

In addition, they have state mandated values for agricultural use and other commercial properties have exceptions for a value in use assessment. It’s pretty much a cluster.
 
There isn’t a single licensed appraiser in my county’s assessor office. Everything goes by state driven, instruction book formulae, often resulting in an assessed value that has little basis in reality.

In addition, they have state mandated values for agricultural use and other commercial properties have exceptions for a value in use assessment. It’s pretty much a cluster.
Mass Appraisal. I typically work well with the assessors. Most of my work is for local municipalities but there are a handful of assessors who think the mass appraisal methodology is the be all and end all. I had one recently where they assessed it for twice what it sold for and was being listed for after being on the market for a reasonable marketing period. The assessment was what was causing the sale to fall through. The typical line of "we don't chase sales". Sure, but can you look at how educated buyers and sellers are responding along with these five sales? She basically said she could outspend us in court. I made it through an entire tribunal once without one other commercial appraiser showing up or putting in work, just valuation specialists, realtors, lawyers and a judge. A lot of appraisers don't go into because of the cluster that it is.
 
Get in touch with your local Realtor association (the one you belong to) and see about presenting at an association meeting or brokers breakfast. Being a past president, we LOVED people offering to do presentations. We would normally have 50-60 ppl attend (breakfast or lunch), probably a small turnout compared to your area, but a full house ready to participate. And get ready for lots of questions afterwards, pack your pocket full of business cards too.

great idea
 
A lot of appraisers don't go into because of the cluster that it is.
I understand the system (cluster that it is) pretty well and work well enough with the employees in the Assessors office, they're basically decent people but they know only what the formula and the books tell them. They are generally amenable to a revision if confronted with a well supported report.

I've gone to the PTABOA (Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals) meetings with the owners on a few occasions; they don't bother or intimidate me. I've sat on the witness stand often enough for condemnation trials that an Assessor's board meeting is almost relaxing.

If the landowner doesn't agree with the Board's decision, he can then appeal and go to a tax court. The Assessor usually finds a way to negotiate at that point because they can't afford the costs of a trial.
 
Realtors don't need any help. They know everything right now. With DOM in my market of under 10 days and Lp/Sp at 99-115%. There are a lot of new fat cats out there, so easy, list it, do nothing, close in 30 days. (I did that 24-26 years ago) I just asked a new Realtor in Columbia County NY for " Comps", he stated he did not NEED comps, the market is too fast. Fast, yes, if it is a CASH buyer, what about your public persona for normal purchasers that actually need a mortgage. Protect the Public is still in the Code of Ethics
 
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