Question: “If I let an Assessor inspect my property, will my taxes go up?”

Answer: Not necessarily.  Your assessed value could increase, but it also could decrease.

Our goal is to assess each property fairly and equitably so that every property owner pays their fair share of the tax burden.  To achieve that goal, we need to make sure our records remain up-to-date.  Simply put, the more accurate information an Assessor has, the more accurate our valuations can be.

Here are some of the reasons why Assessors want to inspect your property:

“Cyclical” Inspections: The MA Department of Revenue requires Assessors to inspect all property in town at least once every 10 years.  Why?  Assessors need to look at how well – or poorly – your property is aging.  The “condition” of your property is a factor in calculating your assessment.  And, sometimes, people make renovations without taking out building permits.

Building Permits: Your property value is affected if you remodel, adding something, or tear down something.  Assessors need to see in person – especially for interior renovations – what the changes are.  Today, we can supplement – and in some cases, replace – our exterior inspections using high-resolution aerial photography.  We also can employ low-cost artificial intelligence (AI) tools to compare exterior photos from one year to the next to identify differences.

Sales: The prices homes sell for within a given time period are what drives values up or down.  The sale of a new or existing property is an opportunity for Assessors to make sure our records are up-to-date.  We can do a lot of this today by going through realtors’ Multiple Listing Service (MLS) information online.  But, we also like to visit a newly sold property if there’s a difference between what realtors are advertising and what our records say.

Commercial, Industrial or Retail Property: Assessors calculate the value of these properties differently than residential ones.  While we look at sales prices, we also need to know things such as potential income, vacancy rates, what tenants are in a given building and what it costs the owners to operate these buildings.

Again, the more accurate our information, the more accurate our valuation.  It’s important that we “measure and list” new property improvements.  It’s just as important for us to keep track of existing ones.

In Massachusetts, property owners do have the right to refuse an Assessor access.  However, you need to ask yourself whether you want the Assessor to estimate your property’s worth or calculate it as accurately as possible.

It’s also important to know that – if you file an abatement application to disagree with your assessment – the burden of proof is on you to prove the assessment is wrong.  And, under state law, once you do file an abatement application, failure to permit an inspection may result in the loss of your appeal rights.

Next Article: “I’ve done nothing to my house.  So, why did my assessment go up?”