We might as well get this started: Appraisal Systems

Do they arrive carrying tablets?  We've seen guys walking around with them on nearby blocks, but no stickers or visits.  

Yes, my guy had a tablet, in and out within 15 minutes and in fact, he was waiting for me when I arrived home.  We weren't here the first time and the sticky gave us a window for the next visit.  Frankly, very easy.  Could be an individual appraiser issue.

Great. Now I'm going to feel like a bad hausfrau if I don't keep the place tidy for the inspector...

Hey, ours was a mess, so don't sweat the small stuff.

My mother's house is a corner property.  I was out and saw that her neighbors all had yellow stickers on their door, but she didn't.  I knew they had been outside in the side yard the whole time, so I asked if the appraisers came by and did the inspection.  She said no, no one had stopped by.  We looked at the front door and there was the sticker.  Considering that they had put stickers on the doors of all the houses on the side street they had to have seen them sitting in the yard (the patio is VERY visible from the street) and didn't say a word and instead snuck around to the front door to put a sticker up. WTF.

They were at my house today.  We were at home to let them in, but we had no warning or notice that they would be here.  The appraisal itself took about 15 or 20 minutes.  

spontaneous said:

My mother's house is a corner property.  I was out and saw that her neighbors all had yellow stickers on their door, but she didn't.  I knew they had been outside in the side yard the whole time, so I asked if the appraisers came by and did the inspection.  She said no, no one had stopped by.  We looked at the front door and there was the sticker.  Considering that they had put stickers on the doors of all the houses on the side street they had to have seen them sitting in the yard (the patio is VERY visible from the street) and didn't say a word and instead snuck around to the front door to put a sticker up. WTF.

This is a good alert for those of us with corner properties and entrances on each street facing side of the house to look at both entry doors periodically to see if an inspection attempt was made.

In your mother's case, the inspectors are probably going by the address for the house that they have in their files. It is possible that two different inspectors were doing the street with the main entrance and the street with the side entrance. 

Saw my yellow sticky on door about an hour ago. They'll try me again tomorrow. Time frame isn't horrible and I'll make note to be home. 

Which area?

Also make sure to verify your property's block and lot ID with the inspector. We had to clear that up with the company.  

Our street hasn't even been assigned yet.  I talked to someone in the Appraisal Systems office, and they were vague about when this would happen.  They said "it could be three weeks."  After pressing them as to when the job would be done, they said "before the end of the year."

So they leave a note on your door on an unnannounced visit and proclaim they'll be back tomorrow duing business hours?  What, do they think we work for them?

Robert_Casotto said:

So they leave a note on your door on an unnannounced visit and proclaim they'll be back tomorrow duing business hours?  What, do they think we work for them?

Presumably they bid for a contract, paid for with our tax dollars, and didn't allow for endless visits. So, you have three choices.

1. Show up

2. Call and reschedule

3. Ignore them, and take a valuation that assumes the most luxurious and up to date renovation.  The rest of us will thank you for the subsidy.

ridski said:

Great. Now I'm going to feel like a bad hausfrau if I don't keep the place tidy for the inspector...

I doubt that it would make a difference in your assessment, but why would you want to make your house look good for someone who is appraising it for taxes?

lizziecat said:

They were at my house today.  We were at home to let them in, but we had no warning or notice that they would be here.  The appraisal itself took about 15 or 20 minutes.  

That is consistent with the announcement which said that the first visit would happen without notice.  If nobody home, then they leave a note with return visit time.  At that point, you can call to reschedule.  

At least, that's how it is supposed to work, but it sounds like some people have had different experiences.

sac said:

ridski said:

Great. Now I'm going to feel like a bad hausfrau if I don't keep the place tidy for the inspector...

I doubt that it would make a difference in your assessment, but why would you want to make your house look good for someone who is appraising it for taxes?

Believe me, it's not going to make any difference in MY assessment.

But to answer your question, I always feel like a bad hausfrau. I'm new at this, and I don't get many gentlemen callers.

yahooyahoo said:

Which area?

South Orange/Montrose. 

Done. Took about 15+ minutes. He was very nice and thorough. 

I understand that if you aren't home when they make an unscheduled stop to inspect your home they will list everything as top of the line in an effort to make you make an appointment, but what they left on my door is ridiculous. My house is less than 800 sq ft and they listed my home as having THREE bathrooms. Where would I even fit three bathrooms!?!

Anyone know what areas of Maplewood they are covering now?

sac said:

ridski said:

Great. Now I'm going to feel like a bad hausfrau if I don't keep the place tidy for the inspector...

I doubt that it would make a difference in your assessment, but why would you want to make your house look good for someone who is appraising it for taxes?

Yesterday they left a sticky note that they would return between 5 and 7 p.m. on June 29th. That seems fairly reasonable to me, and it gives me two weeks to put a temporary concealing wall over one of our bathroom doors.  

mrincredible said:

sac said:

ridski said:

Great. Now I'm going to feel like a bad hausfrau if I don't keep the place tidy for the inspector...

I doubt that it would make a difference in your assessment, but why would you want to make your house look good for someone who is appraising it for taxes?

Yesterday they left a sticky note that they would return between 5 and 7 p.m. on June 29th. That seems fairly reasonable to me, and it gives me two weeks to put a temporary concealing wall over one of our bathroom doors. "> 

Two weeks? We received our first sticky note on Monday, our second one today. My day was already planned when I received the note Monday that they were coming back today. 

I was going to call tomorrow to make an appointment, but looking at the sticky note it seems appointments can be made online 24/7, so I will try that instead. 

...So we're supposed to receive our reval figures in December or later, based on the property's valuation as of October 1st. No big help to us, since our home is on track to come to market in October. Oh well...

-s.

(this is for Maplewood)

The slip of paper they left says I can schedule 24/7 online.  I went online, they say I have no scheduled appointments and that I have to call. 

what if someone is, god forbid, on vacation for two weeks.  Does their proprietary algorithm account for that?

mrincredible said:

sac said:

ridski said:

Great. Now I'm going to feel like a bad hausfrau if I don't keep the place tidy for the inspector...

I doubt that it would make a difference in your assessment, but why would you want to make your house look good for someone who is appraising it for taxes?

Yesterday they left a sticky note that they would return between 5 and 7 p.m. on June 29th. That seems fairly reasonable to me, and it gives me two weeks to put a temporary concealing wall over one of our bathroom doors. "> 

Great business idea, Reverse Renovations LLC.  Kinda like bathfitters except we will install a 20 year old banged up vinyl tub surround over your new pristine condition bathtub tub and spotless porcelain tile. Upgrade to the deluxe package and we will install realistic faux mildew on all caulk points and questionable stains behind the toilet.  And in the kitchen we will use high quality contact paper to make your granite counter top look like a laminate from 1983.  Who wants to go in on this with me?

Robert_Casotto said:

what if someone is, god forbid, on vacation for two weeks.  Does their proprietary algorithm account for that?

I called and asked for the first week of July.  She doesn't have the July schedule up yet and told me to call back in two weeks.  I asked if the appraisals would still be going on, I didn't want to get stuck with three bathrooms (If you saw my house you'd laugh at the thought), and she said they expect to be here for a few months.  So while I wouldn't recommend waiting a few months, don't panic if you want to schedule a date a few weeks out.

We got a notice on our door this morning before 8 a.m.  that they had come on Friday but I guess they didn't realize  that we were home all day  they did not ring the doorbell or knock  Saturday morning we were again both home  they didn't knock or ring the doorbell. I'm sure these guys are just trying to hustle their way through and get as much done as quickly as possible  I would caution everybody to check their appraisal and make sure that it's accurate we're expecting them on Wednesday evening  according to their appointment  they put on the yellow slip. Having someone come to our house makes my wife a little bit nervous  but I will be home for anyone else you should know at least for South Orange you can go on the South Orange web page under government departments look at Assessor  and there is a page for the reevaluation for the assessment  there are photographs of all of the accessories that will be coming into people's homes  I recommend that when the person shows up to check their picture and their ID to make sure they are who they say they are

I'd like to buy some punctuation, Pat.