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Whether you are a new assessor or are a layman searching for more information on appraisals, Lexur Appraisal Services has the capability to provide you with all of your appraisal needs. But before you dive head first into an appraisal project, it might be easier to understand the terms assessors and appraisers are throwing out before getting down to business.

•      Oblique photography
This appraisal term already gives a hint of its meaning within its name. Oblique photography, which is also referred to as aerial photography, is indeed a type of photograph. Oblique photography is actually a type of aerial photograph; ‘oblique’ describes the angle at which the camera axis is tilted. The most complex definition of oblique photography describes it as “an aerial photograph taken with the axis of the camera held at an angle between the horizontal plane of the ground and the vertical plane perpendicular to the ground.” Depending on the aircraft that is being used for oblique photography for appraisals, the image produced can often show the horizon. A benefit oblique photography has over vertical photography is that objects in the foreground can easily be identified, allowing the viewer to know the location of the photograph.

•      Assessment maintenance (Assessment “roll” maintenance)
Sometimes reversed and called maintenance assessment, there are multiple names for this appraisal term. But they all have a similar — if not the same — definition. During assessment maintenance, the appraiser (or assessor) looks at properties that have undergone such a significant change, that change could impact the municipality or community in which the property is located. Since such a significant change on a residential or commercial property can impact its community, appraisers and assessors are brought in to conduct assessment maintenance for tax reasons. Assessment maintenance also covers to see if any maintenance within that community or municipality (upkeep of the streets, sidewalks, lighting, trees, etc.) will be altered because of the property’s change, and if that means a change in taxes as well.

Though just two of many, oblique photography and assessment maintenance are appraisal terms used often in the business, along with quite a few others.