Reappraisal to include interior inspections
A door-to-door inspection of all Montgomery County properties begins next week in Red Oak as part of a reappraisal program.
Representatives from Vanguard Appraisals will be inspecting the inside and outside of all buildings in the county as part of a the program approved in 2011.
According to a press release issued by County Assessor Stacey Von Dielingen, the purpose of the program is to equalize assessments so each taxpayer is responsible for paying their fair share of the local property tax burden.
“Periodic inspections and reappraisal of properties is necessary as all types of properties do not increase or decrease in value atthe same rate,” Von Dielingen stated in the release. “Some properties physically deteriorate faster than others and in many instances, similar buildings located in different areas of the county will differ greatly in value due to economic factors.”
Data collectors with photo identification signed by Von Dielingen will make interior and exterior inspections of all residential properties, including agricultural dwellings.
They will be compiling information to be used to estimate the fair market value of each property.
Von Dielingen said this is the first time an interior and exterior reappraisal has occurred since the mid-1990s and stressed how it benefits the property owner.
“Contrary to what some property owners may think, it is to their benefit. We may think it’s a palace inside and it may not be,” she said. “We have to estimate what is there if we can’t get in so it is to the property owner’s benefit to make sure what we estimate is what’s actually inside the property.”
Information to be collected includes type of construction, type of interior finish, physical condition of the property, age of structures and exterior measurements.
While no estimate of value will be given at the time of inspection, a notice of final value estimates will be mailed after Jan. 1, 2015.
The collection of data is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2014.
The new assessed values will be effective Jan. 1, 2015 for taxes payable in fiscal 2016-17.
However, property owners will have the opportunity to meet informally with a Vanguard official to discuss their revaluation in the spring of 2015. If a resolution cannot be reached there, the property owner can always appeal their valuation to the County Board of Review.
All law enforcement agencies as well as the Assessor’s office will be apprised of the areas where Vanguard data collectors are working as well as a list of names and license plate numbers of anyone involved in the project. Work will start in Red Oak Monday, July 22.
If any property owner has questions regarding the reappraisal project, they are urged to contact Von Dielingen at 623-4171.
“Property owners are asked to cooperate by allowing a complete inspection of their property and providing accurate information so that a fair and equitable assessment may be determined for each property,” Von Dielingen stated.
Should a property owner refuse entry, Von Dielingen said it will be noted and a penalty can be assessed.
“You do have the right to refuse us but Iowa law gives us the ability to levy consequences for that ... up to 100 a percent penalty, which would essentially double their assessment,” she said.
The county has budgeted $431,000 for the reappraisal project, which will be followed by a second phase including inspection of all commercial and industrial properties.