Over assessment in Alton

swnoel · 12-19-2021, 09:31 AM

Do your homework to prove your claim and the majority of the time you have a high probability of winning. You don't need an attorney.

camp guy · 12-19-2021, 09:56 AM

TiltonBB hit the nail on the head when he (she) posted that some people don't admit their improvements. If a person does a little improvement here, and a little improvement there, pretty soon these "little" improvements add up to a significant improvement overall and that is when people get caught. Their assessment is significantly increased over their last assessment, but, because they have not kept the Town abreast of their improvements, there is a gap between the Town (current) assessment and reality. This puts the homeowner in a difficult spot - either fight the new assessment and take your chances with the Town, or accept the new assessment and do things right going forward.

A Town tries to maintain a reasonably level tax rate, and total town-wide property value is a piece of the tax rate equation, so it is helpful if residents keep the Town up to speed when improvements are made.

John Mercier · 12-19-2021, 11:49 AM

The improvements listed most often do not require a permit, nor do they actually affect the assessment to any real degree.

You can replace windows, siding, and roofing without a permit in most municipalities.

An new/extended dock or shed would change the assessment, but the shed may or may not need a permit depending on size... and the dock done without the permits is going to become a state issue that will make taxes the least of one's concerns.

12-19-2021, 09:56 AM	#2
camp guy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: formerly Winter Harbor, still Wolfeboro Posts: 1,183 Thanks: 300 Thanked 525 Times in 293 Posts	Over assessment in Alton TiltonBB hit the nail on the head when he (she) posted that some people don't admit their improvements. If a person does a little improvement here, and a little improvement there, pretty soon these "little" improvements add up to a significant improvement overall and that is when people get caught. Their assessment is significantly increased over their last assessment, but, because they have not kept the Town abreast of their improvements, there is a gap between the Town (current) assessment and reality. This puts the homeowner in a difficult spot - either fight the new assessment and take your chances with the Town, or accept the new assessment and do things right going forward. A Town tries to maintain a reasonably level tax rate, and total town-wide property value is a piece of the tax rate equation, so it is helpful if residents keep the Town up to speed when improvements are made.

12-19-2021, 09:31 AM	#1
swnoel Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 529 Thanks: 83 Thanked 194 Times in 118 Posts	Do your homework to prove your claim and the majority of the time you have a high probability of winning. You don't need an attorney.

12-19-2021, 11:49 AM	#3
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 3,374 Thanks: 3 Thanked 595 Times in 491 Posts	The improvements listed most often do not require a permit, nor do they actually affect the assessment to any real degree. You can replace windows, siding, and roofing without a permit in most municipalities. An new/extended dock or shed would change the assessment, but the shed may or may not need a permit depending on size... and the dock done without the permits is going to become a state issue that will make taxes the least of one's concerns.