The Assessor's Office is working to keep their property records as current and accurate as possible. A vital aspect of this continual review process is field visiting each property every few years to ensure that the property information is up-to-date and correctly reflects the market value of the property. This includes measuring all of the buildings and other property improvements on the property, taking current pictures of the property, walking through the building on a property to determine current condition and review the amenities present, and interviewing the property owners to determine sale history, construction projects that have taken place, etc. The vast majority of property owners have experienced this simple review process first-hand at one time or another.
The state of Michigan has recommended that 20% of properties in a governmental unit be visited each year to review assessment record accuracy and to ensure that properties are being appraised and assessed at 50% of market value. As one of the larger units of government in the State and a leader in progressive efforts to continually improve our excellent standards, the Assessor's Office strives to enhance the annual review process and better meet or exceed the State of Michigan's expectations. By completing a review of 20% of the City, the goal is that every single property is visited at least once every 5 years.
Appraising one-fifth of the properties in a single unit of government each year requires a very deliberate and concerted effort. For Holland City, this equates to visiting 20% of 12,720 parcels, which is 2,544 parcels annually. Visiting over 2,500 properties each year is a lofty goal, but the Assessor's Office believes it is attainable with the cooperation and support of the community.
So if one of the appraisers from the City Assessor's Office shows up with a city car, wearing a City-issued I.D. badge and carrying a clipboard and digital camera, knocking on your door requesting to review your property, please welcome them in. It is merely our local appraisers gathering updated information to enhance the annual assessment process. Accurate assessments benefit everyone in the community.