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Reassessments getting under way in Bath
WARMS SPRINGS - The Bath County Board of Supervisors selected Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal Company, LLC of Staunton and Winchester to perform the general reassessment that will become effective July 1, 2008. The company has been performing general reassessments throughout Virginia since 1978.
The Code of Virginia requires localities to reassess all property at 100 percent of fair market value at regular intervals. The last reassessment in Bath County was effective in 2004.
David R. Hickey, project manager for Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal, said the company has com- pleted the market study of real estate sales having occurred within the county since 2006.
"The field appraisers will begin inspecting the 5,600 properties throughout the county in September, beginning in the northwest part of the county," he said. Hickey expects the field work to be complete in the spring of 2008. Then the assessors will conduct reassessment hearings after the change of assessment notices are mailed to property owners.
After the hearings are complete, Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal will deliver the computer generated property records to the county. The records will list all the information gathered on each property, including a sketch of the main building. The reassessment project will be complete by the end of March 2008, followed by the board of equalization hearings beginning in April 2008.
Hickey states the field appraisers will visit each property and if no adult is home, will leave a "door hanger" card indicating the date the property was inspected. The card will specify if more information is necessary to complete the property valuation. The property owner may return the card by mail or phone the 800-number provided. The company is also taking digital photographs of all major buildings and structures on each property. The photographs will be maintained in the company's computer as a part of the review process then deliv- to the county at the end of the project.
For questions, call Hickey, Blue Ridge Mass Appraisal Company, (540) 248-7100.
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