When Dover resident Bill Simpson opened the new property appraisal letter he received from the city assessor’s office last month, he was more than a little surprised at what he read.
According to the city’s latest revaluation, which wrapped up in January, some of Simpson’s land now is worth three times as much as it was when Dover did its last property assessment in 2005.
Simpson owns a collection of vacant lots in the Oak Shadows development, located on Long Point Road south of White Oak Road, but he said there’s no way they are worth what the appraiser says they are.
“The property values that they’re coming up with, I’d take the money anytime, I’d be happy to sell it for that, but it’s not realistic,” he said. “They’ve got my lots going here from $80,000 to $120,000, and the last one I sold was $40,000.”
According to Tyler Technologies, the appraisal firm contracted to conduct the reassessment, 30% of the city’s vacant land has increased in value since the last assessment. Property values also increased for 9% of the city’s residential properties and 32% of its commercial properties.
Like hundreds of other residents, Simpson followed the directions on his revaluation notice and called Tyler and set up an appointment with an appraiser to discuss his property values.
At the meetings, scheduled through the last week of March, property owners who think their land, homes or businesses have been valued too high or too low have the opportunity to show Tyler staff why they think it should be changed, or just find out how the company arrived at its value.
The company has the opportunity to revise valuations before the final figures are handed over to the city assessor in April.
Tyler appraiser Paul Miller said the response from Dover residents has been average for a revaluation of this kind. Through the end of February, 460 citizens had called for information and 325 have scheduled meetings, he said.
When taxpayers turn up for their appointments, Miller said it’s important to bring evidence and documentation supporting their conclusions.
“They should bring in any information to support what they’re trying to relate to us, any sales information, any recent appraisals. Some people want to come in and say their house isn’t worth what we say it is because of water damage or condition; we suggest they bring in photographs of these type of things,” he said.
