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8
2024 Guide for Property Owners
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
State law requires property be valued from actual view or from the best information that can be practicably
obtained. An interior inspection results in a better-quality assessment; however, it is not always possible to conduct
interior inspections. To ensure receiving a complete and accurate valuation, it benets the property owner to
provide interior viewing access of their residence. For the purposes of valuation, if access is denied, the assessor
will then base the valuation on the next best information available. However, if facts exist making an interior view
necessary to complete an accurate valuation, the assessor may seek a special inspection warrant under state law
(sec. 66.0119, Wis. Stats.), to view the interior of the home.
1. Notication process with Request to View Property Notice
Secs. 70.05(4m) and (4n), Wis. Stats. require assessors to provide property owners written notice when requesting
an interior view of the residence. DOR recommends sending a letter, allowing 14 calendar days for a response. If
the assessor does not receive a response, they may attempt in-person contact to obtain consent. If that step is
unsuccessful, the assessor may send a certied letter including the notice. If an interior view remains necessary to
complete an accurate valuation, refusal of entry can provide basis for seeking a special inspection warrant.
2. Sale of the property
• When a property sells, the assessor must review the sale
• Assessor veries the facts surrounding the sale to determine if it is an arm’s-length sale and usable for assessment
purposes, this may include an interior inspection (requiring notice to the property owner) of the property
• Assessor uses sales to update assessments in a municipality when conducting a revaluation (Reassessment/
Revaluation)
3. New construction and improvement maintenance
• Under state law, the assessment must be based on the market value of the improvement. The assessor looks at
how much the total value of the building and land changed due to the improvement. The cost may not be the
true measure of any change in market value. If there is an increase in market value, it should be reected in an
increase in assessed value.
• If a building is under construction as of January 1, the best way for the assessor to get this information is with an
on-site inspection and recording the data on the appropriate property record card
• Onsite inspection reveals new or remodeled improvements not previously recorded
• If the property owner started new or remodeled improvements before January 1 (the assessment day) and
nished after January 1, the assessor must nd out how much was completed as of January 1 and assess the
existing improvements as of January 1
• Normal home repairs and maintenance generally prevent property values from falling and usually do not
warrant a change in the assessment
Example: A property is worth $90,000. As of January 1, the property owner started an addition, but only has a
foundation. The property should be appraised at the $90,000 plus the value of the foundation as of January 1. In
such a case, the value of the foundation should be determined by the construction cost and could possibly be
veried with construction receipts or the building permit.
D. Information used to determine assessments
Assessors consider information from many sources to determine your assessment.
1. Recent arm’s-length sales
Under state law, the best indicator of market value is a recent arm’s-length sale of a property provided it is in line
with recent arm’s-length sales of reasonably comparable property.
The assessor may not change the assessment of property based solely on the recent arm’s-length sale of property
without adjusting the assessed value of comparable properties in the same market area.
• Sales should be recent – those several years old may not reect current market conditions