Many times when blanket assessments are done on homes, the resulting values are inaccurate and a result of a ”quick fix” mentality. Often adjustments are made using a factor or multiplier to adjust values. Not that a blanket reappraisals accuracy is much better, because it also suffers from lack of diligence to detail.

Municipalities reappraise the homes within their borders by hiring blanket appraisal companies. This is done in a bidding process and the low bid wins. If the bid allocation was only $38 per home and the blanket appraiser needed to make a profit, how much time can actually be spent per home? The people the appraiser hires are time-pressed to make their observations.

What we are saying is that errors abound in the blanket real estate tax appraisal of properties. If the blanket appraisal company or town uses multipliers, there is no way that you can take those bad initial assessment numbers and turn them into accurate numbers by multiplying them by another figure.

If town internal structures spoke and cooperated closely, blanket assessments would not be necessary. Building inspectors would pass on their information from individual renovations and additions to the tax assessors. New built home market values can likewise be converted to reflect accurate values for the town?s homes and properties.

A tax assessor has little time to appraise a home and usually do not engage in that activity. Tax assessors are often politically appointed and are not trained and experienced real estate appraisers. Their usual method of deriving value is based on a cost basis instead of a market value approach. The market value approach is based on what an informed buyer would pay for the home, not what it cost to build it.

Selling prices of homes are constantly changing. When appealing your property taxes, only market value holds weight. Your home must equal the current selling price of other comparable home in your area.

A huge amount of money is spent on blanket municipal appraisals. Sure they may catch the occasional patio or shed built without a permit, but that does not warrant the extra appraisal cost.

Blanket reassessments are opportunities for appeal because of the high error rate. Homeowners need to do a simple real estate tax appeal analysis to determine if their home’s market value is in line with the assessed value assigned to their home.

By you employing the right comparables and adjustment figures, you target the real areas for real estate tax appeal that maximize your property tax reduction possibilities. Enter http://www.propertytaxax.com for more instruction.

Many policyholders will rely on the adjuster sent by their insurance company to arrive for a meeting, inspect the claim damages, and provide an estimate for what they believe is a fair settlement of the claim. This is a mistake of enormous proportion that should almost NEVER HAPPEN! Insurance advice rule number one is… Don’t Let It Happen!

I’m not insinuating that there isn’t any good, hard working, professional adjusters remaining out there. I’m also not insinuating that all the adjusters are not trustworthy, or that all adjusters are trying to cheat people. There are many professional and courteous adjusters that go above the call of duty for many policyholders. However, are we so blind an delusional to think that an adjuster can’t make mistakes, that there will never be an adjuster that misses hidden damages, or that every adjuster who works for your insurance company has multiple years of experience with the type of claim on your building? Not Very Likely!

You’re most likely one of those people who have had a second opinion before having your car fixed. Possibly you or someone you know has needed a second opinion after seeing a doctor, second opinion when buying a car, a computer, or even hiring a contractor? Most people have had more than one estimate to build a deck, replace windows, or have a new room put on their home. I’m assuming you and most everyone you ask has answered “YES,” to all or one of these questions. Then why is it that policyholders allow adjusters to basically “TELL THEM,” what they will receive for their insurance claim?

Most insurance adjusters have learned how to pass an insurance claim exam and learned how to use an insurance estimating program… but have never worked on an insurance repair job. Many have never built or repaired a home, nor have they ever worked for any type of Construction Company. Chances are they will miss something needed to properly complete the repairs of your claim.

Let’s face it, no one needs insurance advice to realize that it’s YOUR property, it’s YOUR insurance policy, and it’s YOUR responsibility to protect yourself. Again, your adjuster may be dead on with his/her analysis. Regardless, you should have a contractor or insurance claim professional provide you with a detailed, line item insurance claim estimate to compare with the insurance company’s estimate.

What Is A Detailed, Line-Item Estimate?

Many contractors may use a square foot cost to replace a roof or siding on a home. However, insurance companies usually require an estimate that has been detailed by separating each line-item individually. By using the replacement of a damaged roof in our example; the insurance companies will require that each process and layer of the repairs be listed. They need to view each type of material being used to ensure the insured is not upgrading what they had. Surely the insured can upgrade, but, the insured pays for the difference between what they had and what they are upgrading to. That’s the reason they wish to see all items listed separately. Here’s an example of a detailed, line-item insurance repair estimate;

The numbers in the above example are fictitious; however, it shows the basics of a Line Item, Detailed Estimate. Each line item is broken down in detail and displays the description, quantity, unit cost, and total for each separate line item. This type of detail is needed so the insurance company can review and compare each separate line item and unit costs with their own software. Having the insurance claim estimate formatted the way the insurance companies like to see them, results in a faster settlement.

In events when their is an insurance dispute; by issuing the more detailed estimate provides a much smoother, less time consuming process. It’s much more difficult for your insurance company to dispute a insurance claim estimate that is submitted to them in the format that they have requested.

Watch out for yourself, protect and educate yourself, and always seek insurance advice by obtaining a second opinion. This should be the first thought on any and all insurance claim damages you happen to incur. If you fail to look out for yourself… Nobody Will?

Joe Brennan is President and owner/operator of Insurance Claims Group, Inc., a national independent adjusting, appraisal, and umpiring firm. We will answer your claim questions FREE – Ph: 919-669-9111 . Get Insurance Advice , by visiting http://www.insuranceclaimsgroup.com , or http://www.insuranceappraisalumpire.com

1099 C forgiveness of debt is really income to you in the year the debt was written off. WHAT? You bet. A creditor is required by law to issue a 1009 C to any individual that settles a debt or has a debt written off that is in excess of $600.

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The Dreaded 1099C -Forgiveness of Debt

Written by Craig D. Robins, Esq. It is most unfortunate, but the Obama administration’s $75 billion program to protect homeowners from foreclosure is now seen as a major disappointment

Here is the original post:
Obama’s "Making Homes Affordable" Mortgage Modification Program Failing

Obama plan was launched with great fanfare. Only 759,000 loans were modified and that too on a trial loan modification basis

Here is the original post:
Obama Plan Is adding Woes to Homeowners’ Miseries!

Can a husband or wife get a second chance to stop a foreclosure sale of the marital residence in a chapter 13 bankruptcy case? Yes, a husband or wife can often get a second chance to stop a Virginia foreclosure sale in a chapter 13 bankruptcy case.

Continued here:
Can a husband or wife get a second chance to stop a foreclosure sale of the marital residence in a chapter 13 bankruptcy case?