July 23, 2010

Property Inspections Continue in Hampton

During the months of July, August and September, City of Hampton real estate appraisers will continue a comprehensive field review program that was initiated in 2005. The following neighborhoods and areas of Hampton will be visited during the coming months:

• Charlene Woods
• Forrest Ridge
• Hampton Woods
• Holiday Park-Foxbridge Area
• JB Lake Estates
• Nubian Park
• Pelican Shores
• Pinewood
• Southall Landing

Additional neighborhoods and areas may be added to this list as the project continues. The Office of the Assessor of Real Estate appreciates the cooperation and assistance of Hampton property owners in the effort to maintain accurate property information and produce fair and equitable assessments.

During the past five years 14,138 properties have been reviewed to confirm property information and property characteristics whose accuracy is critical in conducting annual reassessment. The field review program includes the use of tools such as aerial photography, traditional orthophotography, and oblique photography.

About the inspection process

Property inspections are conducted by real estate appraisers Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Real estate appraisers drive city automobiles and display a City of Hampton photo identification card and also carry City of Hampton business cards. If property owners wish to verify a staff member's identity, they can do so by calling the Office of the Assessor of Real Estate at 728-5182 or the 311 Customer Call Center.

When a property inspection is necessary, appraisers will announce their arrival to the property by knocking at the door or ringing the door bell, and introducing themselves. They may confirm a variety of property details and characteristics, such as the number of bathrooms and bedrooms, and conduct an exterior inspection to include verifying measurements.

If the property owners are not home, the appraisers will conduct the exterior inspection and leave a postage-paid door hanger questionnaire if additional information is needed. The appraiser may inquire about the building interior. Appraisers may accept the owner's offer of an interior inspection, although property owners are not required to grant permission for interior inspections.

Interior inspections may reveal that a house is in a condition, or of a quality, other than what is suggested from the exterior inspection. Appraisers will also be taking a digital image of the front elevation of homes if one is not already in the real estate database or if the house has been substantially altered since the current database image was taken.

About the Office of the Assessor of Real Estate

The Office of the Assessor of Real Estate provides access to individual property information and general information about real estate assessments at www.hampton.gov/assessor. In reviewing individual property information, if you identify a suspected error, please call 311 or email AssessorsWebMail@hampton.gov.

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