On the Winning Side of Property Tax Assessments

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Many residential and commercial businesses faced large tax assessment hikes for the 2023 year. Some commercial assessments increased well over 25% between 2022 to 2023. The County and City Assessors typically do a good job of capturing the sales data, but in setting values for some properties, they sometimes land at assessments outside the market norms. That is when an appraisal is helpful.

Roy R. Fisher has been providing appraisals for over 90 years, helping hundreds of Iowa and Illinois businesses and multi-family property owners appeal their tax assessments.

Through July of this year, Roy R. Fisher worked with several property owners to appeal their assessments. We were successful at the Board of Review level in helping the owners get reductions in 11 of 13 appeals where an appraisal was developed. The average reduction from the preliminary 2023 assessments was over 17%. In two cases, the reduction was more than 30% in the preliminary 2023 assessed value.

And we don’t just work with property owners. We have performed several appraisals for City and County Assessors throughout Iowa and Illinois, primarily valuing larger retail and industrial properties. This has helped Assessors and County Boards of Review defend their assessments.

These appraisals require extensive demographic analysis and a wide regional search for comparable data. Our firm strives to serve all our clients with impartiality and a commitment to credibility.

Meet Jordan Maus: Commercial Appraiser and Vice Chair of the Real Estate Appraisal Examining Board for the State of Iowa

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Jordan Maus began his appraisal career in 2008, in Chicago, IL. After gaining valuable experience in such a large market, he returned to the Quad Cities two year later. In January 2012, he joined Roy R. Fisher as an Associate Appraiser. He then earned his license to become a Certified General Real Property Appraiser in 2013 and has been licensed in Iowa and Illinois ever since. While he works primarily on assignments for loan underwriting, Jordan can handle any appraisal task that comes his way.

“I noticed from the time he first arrived, Jordan had a keen eye for detail,” says Roy R. Fisher President, Mark Nelson. “He’s efficient with his time and always goes above and beyond.”

One way Jordan continues to excel in this field is through his appointment to the Real Estate Appraisal Examining Board for the State of Iowa. He has been a member of the Board since May of 2020. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Board and sits on the Discipline and Peer Reviewer Committees.

Serving on this Board allows Jordan to give back to the appraisal industry. The Discipline Committee takes their service seriously and ensures integrity in the industry throughout Iowa. Their efforts may mean disciplinary action in some cases. This can include assigning appraisers additional training and education to help improve their work and ensure USPAP compliance in every appraisal report.

In his day-to-day work for Roy R. Fisher, Jordan is responsible for writing appraisal reports, general property research, real estate market analysis, and sales/lease research. Additionally, he reconciles income/expense data and performs property inspections. Jordan is deliberate about the appraisal tasks he takes on, but he handles every assignment with finesse.

The industry has largely remained constant throughout Jordan’s career with Roy R. Fisher. “The biggest change,” he says, “has been improvements in technology and report writing software.” While technology makes writing reports and gathering data more efficient, it always takes an expert appraiser to do the job thoroughly and properly.

Jordan focuses on the Quad Cities region, which includes Scott County, in Iowa, and Rock Island County, in Illinois, though sometimes he serves other nearby communities such as Muscatine, Burlington, Iowa City, Clinton, and Dubuque, as well as smaller communities in Illinois. “We try to avoid encroaching on other appraiser’s primary markets,” says Jordan. “However, we are happy to help out when our colleagues call for help.”

Assisting fellow appraisers, whether it’s in a nearby market, or by serving on the Real Estate Appraisal Examining Board, makes Jordan a strong member of the Roy R. Fisher team and the broader appraisal community.

The Crucial Role of Appraisers in the Aftermath of Catastrophic Loss

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When catastrophic losses occur, such as fire, natural disaster, or structural failure in a building component, the role of an appraiser becomes critical. Appraisers are often called upon to assess the extent of the damage and provide an accurate valuation of the property post-disaster. This valuation is essential for insurance claims and can significantly impact the recovery process for property owners.

Appraisers, like ours at Roy R. Fisher, are trained to handle these situations with professionalism and precision. Appraisers must consider various factors. These include the extent of the damage, the feasibility and cost of repairs, and the impact on the property’s overall value. They understand the importance of their role in the recovery process and strive to provide fair and accurate appraisals.

In some catastrophic loss cases, appraisers can be called on to provide expert testimony. Their unbiased, professional opinions can greatly aid in resolving disputes between insurers and policyholders. They provide an objective assessment of the property’s value, which can help ensure that victims are adequately compensated for their losses.

At Roy R. Fisher, we understand the importance of appraisal services in the aftermath of catastrophic loss. Our team of experienced appraisers is committed to providing fair and accurate valuations to help property owners, lenders and insurance companies navigate the recovery process. If you’ve experienced a catastrophic loss and need an appraisal, contact us today. We’re here to help.

For more information on our services and the appraisal process, check out our services page and our blog post on translating complex commercial property language.