Collect Required Physical Data
During this phase, listers, otherwise known as data collectors, go to each property and physically inspect the interior and exterior of each building. They note the building’s location, size, age, quality of construction, number of bedrooms, bathrooms and any improvements. They also note topography issues, utilities, zoning restrictions, if any, and numerous other characteristics regarding the buildings, outbuildings and property. If the property has recently sold, the lister will inquire about the terms of the sale. If the property is a potential income producing property (apartment, office building, etc.) the lister may inquire about rental information. In order to obtain verification that a property has had its interior inspected, the owner is asked to sign the data collection form to verify that the inspection took place. The entire process typically takes approximately 15 minutes. If you are unsure about letting a person in, listers should carry proper identification and will have their information on file at the police department and the assessor’s office. Due to the cost required to physically visit properties, this step is not undertaken on every project.
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