Property Tax Abatement + Privacy Violating Inspection

[FTL_Ian]

I got my 2nd tax bill and noticed they'd valued my property at $230,000.  I paid $205,000.  So I went to find out what it would take to get that adjusted.

I have to fill out a form in quadruplicate submit it to the bureaucrats, hope the abatement board "grants" me the adjustment, AND have some bureaucrat come to my house and poke around for a 15 minute inspection!!!

Does anyone have experience with this?  I'm concerned that it's not going to be worth the hassle.  Is it possible the inspector will come in and say, "Hmmm, this isn't up to code, you'll need to change this." or "Looks like you're running an illegal home based business" etc...?

[KurtDaBear]

Many years ago in Michigan my wife and I won an assessment reduction based on the fact that our lot had been wrongly described in the tax records.  (Our lot was listed as 40' wide, but was only 30'.)  It saved us a few hundred dollars a year in property taxes, not to mention lowering the base value for all future property tax increases, special assessments, etc., so I'd say it's worth it.

I don't know how the system works in N.H., but in Mich., the assessor set the values and a separate board decided the appeals.  We were pretty sure our case was handled honestly since we won, and the arrogant assessor had told us not to bother to appeal because he had never lost.

If I you're going to appeal, you might as well shoot for the moon and ask them to reassess you at below what you paid since real estate values are now falling.  That is a legitimate concept in any taxing jurisdiction in which I've lived.  You have nothing to lose, and it might make them more willing to give you the purchase price figure.  (It will help you to have some comps.  Check out the valuations of some of the long-time residents with properties similar to yours.  Those are usually distorted to the low end, while the assessor sticks it to the newcomers.)

[FTL_Ian]

I'd be happy to go for it, but I'm a little concerned about the inspection.  So much for privacy.  Anyone had this happen?  Do they use it as an excuse to harass you?

[FTL_Ian]

If economic rent continues to be discussed here, I'll remove the topic and start another.  This is to be about abatements and inspections experiences. 

[Spencer]

Here's a thread re: Keene resuming housing inspections (including interiors) from April 2005:

http://forum.soulawakenings.com/index.php?topic=862.msg10951#msg10951

And here's a more recent thread that dealt with the "legality" of the scheme:

http://forum.soulawakenings.com/index.php?topic=5400.msg94913#msg94913

[Dave Ridley]

so....who are the perps of this invasion and where do we go to hold a sign in front of them?

[Spencer]

so....who are the perps of this invasion and where do we go to hold a sign in front of them?

Department of Assessment
City Hall
3 Washington Street
Keene, New Hampshire 03431
Voice: (603) 357-9803 or (603) 352-2125
Fax: (603) 357-9857

Hours:
Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Department of Assessment Staff:
Laura Thibodeau, CNHA, City Assessor
Tim Ballantine, CNHA, NHCG, Property Appraiser
Diane Stauder, Assessment Technician
Jennifer Walsh, Automation Specialist

[Spencer]

You can check out the entire list of property valuations for the City of Keene here (you can search by owner name and street name):

http://www.ci.keene.nh.us:7777/pls/htmldb/f?p=1:1:5121006008217266011

[error]

Oh, that's just too frightening.

Remind me never to buy a house in my own name.

[Spencer]

Oh, that's just too frightening.

Remind me never to buy a house in my own name.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Rosie the Riveter]

I'd be happy to go for it, but I'm a little concerned about the inspection.  So much for privacy.  Anyone had this happen?  Do they use it as an excuse to harass you?

My understanding is that the assessors in Manch are not city employees but sub-contractors. The experience I had with them was fine and we probably had a violation or two....

Manchester uses http://visionappraisal.com/

Based on this information it seems like it would be reasonable to ask if the assessor that will visit you is a city employee or a sub-contractor in Keene.

[FTL_Ian]

Perhaps I should just refuse it.

[Spencer]

Perhaps I should just refuse it.

Why don't you record it for your radio show?  Let the guy know that you're a morning zoo radio host and have a whole bunch of gags worked up -- like having a male stripper pop out of one of the closets.

This could be the makings of great radio.

[Fluff and Stuff]

According to Keene, even Kat's trailer went up in value.  Clearly, something is fishy.

[FrankChodorov]

Perhaps I should just refuse it.

it will potentially cost you $638.50 (25K x 25.54 tax rate) to refuse it by not asking for a re-evaluation.