ARE PROPERTY REAPPRAISALS MISLEADING?

Appraisal Systems Inc., the firm that has been hired for more than $400,000 to conduct the mandated reappraisal of property values in Maplewood, is apparently overestimating some values in order to gain access to homes.

Under the contract with Maplewood, approved in April, ASI is reappraising homes after Essex County officials order the move last year.

Its contract stipulates that homeowners do not have to let the appraiser in and that surveys can be done from the outside.

When such an outside survey is done, the appraiser leaves a note with his or her initial review of the property and requests to gain entrance later.

But several residents have indicted that the initial reviews are extremely high and include estimates of high-value items like central air and additional bathrooms that do not exist. For those who are not home, these higher appraisals can stick and wrongly be used to assess their home at a higher rate.

One such example is below:

This initial review claimed the home had four bathrooms and central air. In reality, it had no central air and just one full bath.

When the appraiser was brought back and asked about the overly high estimate, he said, "That's to get your attention."

Requests for comment from Township officials and Appraisal Systems Inc. have yet to produce a response.   

Such appraisals can, of course, be appealed. But appeals take time and money in many cases.