Madison County, Ohio

Street-View Imaging in support for a Field and Remote Data Verification Project and Implementing the IAAO Standard on Mass Appraisal of Real Property, 3.3.5 Alternative to Periodic On-Site Inspections

Jim Williamson, AAS                                    Lexur Appraisal Services

Madison County Auditor                             Dan Muthard, President

1 N. Main St.                                                     P. O. Box 751282

London, OH    43140                                     Dayton, OH   45475

(740) 852-9717                                                (888) 430-4495

Desktop Review - Using imagery and working remotely to satisfy the viewing and inspection requirements for reappraisal

While high resolution street-view images were being collected, Yotta MVS crews working from a van, verified that the geo-referenced CAMA sketch overlaid on an ortho visible in the van, matched what was visible on the ground.  The field crew also collected a unique x-y coordinate for every structure along with its field-verified site address.

Data verification of property characteristics was completed by Lexur's appraisers working at the desktop in three remote locations in Butler, Muskingum and Logan counties.  The appraisers used Yotta MVS' Appraisal Review software application to manage the daily work effort and to visually verify and record property characteristics for each improved parcel.  Daily production and property characteristics changes were downloaded to the County's FTP site.  The County then downloaded the changes to the County's server and maintained the "master file".

It took the three experienced appraisers 2 1/2 months to review 13,619 homes, make 25,990 changes; 8,210 of which were to the sketches.  The three individuals reviewed an average of 90 homes per day each, flagged 5% for further review and in the end, 1% required a site visit.

According to Jim Williamson, County Auditor, "Don't do it to save money (but it may).  Do it to increase accuracy and consistency.  Do it to increase fairness and equity."  And further, this approach is "the next evolution for revaluations."