Yep, comps usually do the heavy lifting. But don't totally ditch those pics—sometimes assessors surprise you and actually care about peeling paint (rare, I know...). Keep both handy, cover all bases, and breathe easy. You've got this.
"sometimes assessors surprise you and actually care about peeling paint (rare, I know...)"
True, it's rare, but I've seen assessors get hung up on smaller issues than peeling paint. I wouldn't underestimate the impact of detailed photos—better safe than sorry, especially when your wallet's on the line.
Yeah, peeling paint is one thing, but I've seen assessors get picky about stuff you'd never expect. One time, a buddy of mine had an assessor zoom in on a cracked sidewalk slab—just a tiny crack, nothing major—and it ended up being a bigger hassle than you'd think. Detailed photos saved him from a bigger headache, though.
Honestly, when it comes to property taxes and assessments, I always play it cautious. You just never know what's going to catch someone's attention. I'd rather take an extra 15 minutes snapping clear pictures than deal with weeks of back-and-forth later. Plus, documentation can really help if you need to dispute something. Maybe I'm overly cautious, but better safe than sorry when you're dealing with potential hits to your wallet...
You're definitely not being overly cautious—I've learned the hard way that assessors can be surprisingly particular about the smallest details. A few years back, I had a similar experience. The assessor flagged a minor issue with my deck railing that I honestly hadn't even noticed. Luckily, I'd taken some photos beforehand that showed it was structurally sound, just a cosmetic thing. Those pictures saved me from a drawn-out dispute.
So yeah, taking that extra time to document everything is smart. It's not paranoia; it's just good homeowner sense. Property taxes and assessments are stressful enough without unexpected curveballs, so having clear documentation can really ease your mind. I think of it like insurance—hopefully you won't need it, but if you do, you'll be glad you took the time.
"Those pictures saved me from a drawn-out dispute."
Good tip about photos—I actually made a checklist for myself to document every room and exterior feature before my first assessment. Felt a bit obsessive at first, but now I'm glad I did it... peace of mind counts.
