garden RR and real estate values

[grandpopswalt]

TJ,

The appraisal can only be made on the landscaping not directly associated with the RR. The trains, track, structures, RR bridges, and any plantings associated with the RR have to be considered temporary. You can argue, and you’d probably be right, that a new homeowner would almost certainly remove the RR from the back yard. As a matter of fact you could probably make a case that the RR would actually decrease the value of the property because the new owner would incur some cost removing the RR and would consider that fact when making an offer.

I‘ve always said one should pick his fights carefully, well this one’s certainly worth going to the mat over.

Walt

[Anonymous]

TJ, first things first, Ask him what he's been smoking and what is his comparison is to come up with that figure. I refinaced a couple of years ago and the difference is apprasels were $ 20,000.00! I know this is slightly different then realestate tax apprasel but REALLY! I built my 30' x 40' garage out back and it didn't increase the value of my property according the bank by much. Go with the toy train hobby angle , nobody in this hobby would think any less of you by doing so!

[tangerine-jack]

I know, it's quite a chunk of change. Believe me, nobody was more surprized than me! I always thought I did adequate work, but good grief, that figure puts me into the "artist" category. I might try to appeal with the "toy train" angle, but that may undo the work everybody has done for the last 20 years to legitimize the hobby. I think he was assessing the actual landscaping, but the eyes were on the train.

I do plan on the appeal, that could take some time, but I have plenty of fight in me. Normaly a property value increase is a good thing, but I have no plans now or in the knowable future to sell the place, so an increase is counterproductive as far as the tax is concerned. I'm just wondering how many others in this hobby have experienced this sort of thing. In indoor scales, nobody knows or cares what you have, so it is not an issue. I posted some photos a few weeks ago, and you can reference them (minus some plant life) for an idea of what we are talking about. True, I like to put myself on a pedistal and give myself an artificialy inflated feeling of self-worth, but photos don't lie, and that ain't no way 17.5G worth of RR.

Granted, an outdoor RR is an improvement to any home........................

[oX)]

[Anonymous]

JACK
Can't you appeal , where did he get his figures for the assessment , ??? how did he come up with 17.5G's .THATS A BIG CHUNK of tax increase. I know i would appeal the thing . it's a hobby ,when you move you take it with you . this guy is crazzy. ben

[tangerine-jack]

I just got a "friendly" visit from the Real Estate Assessor and much to my surprize[:0], my garden RR was valued as a "home improvement" to the tune of $17,500. Now I know my garden is very pretty, but 17.5G? "That's nuts" [:(]says I, "don't care" [:(!]says he.

Has anybody else out there dealt with this? Is there any way to convince city hall that it's only a garden, and please don't tax me for it? Does anybody want me to come by your home for 17.5G and build you a small RR?

[oX)]