Town of Northfield/Avitar has randomly selected MY house for an interior inspect

[Hubbard]

Avitar has selected MY house for random INTERIOR inspection to get a "proper" value.... No thank you. Anyone else get a notice like this?

[John Edward Mercier]

Have before; but I'm not in Northfield nor is Belmont presently under re-assessment.

[freeborn]

Avitar has selected MY house for random INTERIOR inspection to get a "proper" value.... No thank you. Anyone else get a notice like this?

Just remember that you do not have to let them in. They have no legal right to enter your house unless you give them permission. In fact, they have no legal right to even enter any of your property without permission.

[slim]

I have never had to deal with this but I would not allow them to come in to my home. If they had the "authority" to do so they would not be asking you. If they came to my home I would answer the door inform them that this is private property, they are not welcome, inform them if they do try and enter the property again that you will file criminal charges, and escort them off the property. I would suggest that you do this all with a smile and as nice as possible.

The use of a video camera could be a good thing if they do come back that way you would have proof that you informed them of the consequences if they did return. If you do use a camera I would think that using the line Dave Ridley uses would be better then nothing.

[John Edward Mercier]

They won't force entry.
This could be one of two things... just the random sampling to help set assessment figures.
Or they discovered that the interior of your home has never been assessed, and is thus set at maximum.

[Pat McCotter]

And remember that the law also states that if you don't let them in you will not be able to contest the assessment.

[guy]

Could result in a lower assessment, which is a good thing.

[K. Darien Freeheart]

And remember that the law also states that if you don't let them in you will not be able to contest the assessment.

Sounds like a good reason to withold any ransom demands they might make based on that number.

[KBCraig]

Avitar has selected MY house for random INTERIOR inspection to get a "proper" value.... No thank you. Anyone else get a notice like this?

Just remember that you do not have to let them in. They have no legal right to enter your house unless you give them permission. In fact, they have no legal right to even enter any of your property without permission.

This is true, but the statute says that if you deny entry, you lose all right to appeal. You either let a stranger into your house to prowl around and declare what your house is worth, or you let the same stranger declare what your house is worth without seeing the inside; the former lets you appeal, the latter does not.

It truly sucks, either way.

[Puke]

I wonder what is inside a home that a bureaucrat needs to see that might change the assessment based on only looking at the outside of the home?

I call shenanigans.

[freeborn]

I call shenanigans.

It is more than shenanigans. 1984 comes to mind.

Of course you could always take the matter to court but, unfortunately, it is difficult to show that the assessment is wrong.

When it comes to fighting government the average citizen is at a destinct disadvantage.

[Hubbard]

I plan on calling the number on the letter and telling them that I won't be allowing entry. I sleep during the day and work at night, and I just don't see why they should be in my house.

[John Edward Mercier]

Exterior dimensions provide a range of cost, but the interior allows for a more exacting assessment.
Sort of like the difference in MSRP on a basic as compared to fully loaded vehicle.

Even the assessment isn't a true market value, but a best guess based on sales data.

[J’raxis 270145]

I wonder what is inside a home that a bureaucrat needs to see that might change the assessment based on only looking at the outside of the home?

I believe they want to know things like number of bathrooms, bedrooms, &c..

Either way, I wouldn't let them—or anyone else working for the government—into my home.

[Hubbard]

They know bedroom/bathroom and square footage already. I really don't want them walking around my house...