1/3 On the road with the WOZ appraiser
Appraiser Dirk Sonneveld looks with an appraising eye at the facade of the house of the Omroep Brabant reporter. “Looks neat, but if I can also look inside, I can determine the value even better.” Sonneveld works for the West Brabant Tax Cooperation and determines the WOZ value of houses. “We are not concerned with the highest possible valuation. We actually want the fairest possible assessment and for residents to understand how it was arrived at.” Because the number of people who object to the estimated WOZ value is sky high.
This year, the West Brabant Tax Cooperation received a record number of objections to the determined WOZ value. Director Peter Stoffelen: “We feared 14,000 objections, but it turned out to be more than 21,000. It is now the end of November and we have now handled 16,000 objections.”
Stoffelen previously warned that due to the large number of objections, the West Brabant Tax Cooperation no longer has time to do other things, such as regularly appraising homes in West Brabant.
Because appraiser Sonneveld is not allowed to say anything about other people’s houses for privacy reasons, he uses the reporter’s Breda house as an example.
“We will remain on the public road without permission from the residents.”
In his office in Etten-Leur he places a laptop on the table and conjures up a whole series of photos on the screen. Aerial views and photos from the roof of a car driving through the streets. He also has the cadastral data. “Here we get a good idea of your house from 1995. It now has dormer windows at the front and back and there are solar panels on the roof. This increases the value of your house,” Dirk explains in the photos.
And that’s just the outside. Dirk: “If the house comes up for sale or rent, we can also take a look inside through photos on the website of the real estate agent or landlord. But we actually prefer to visit the people’s homes ourselves, because that gives us the best picture.”
Sonneveld gets into his car and drives to the reporter’s house. Armed with tablet for notes. Once there, he puts on his appraiser’s eye and inspects the facade. “Indeed. Dormer windows, solar panels, a bay window. It all looks neat.” He walks into the driveway for a closer inspection. “We remain on the public road without permission from the residents, but now that you have given permission, I will continue walking,” he laughs.
“I’ve never actually had any unpleasant experiences.”
On the other side of the double glazing, a Labrador looks on, wagging his tail curiously. There is a warning sign at the gate for the watchdog, but the appraiser is used to something. “I haven’t had any unpleasant experiences yet. Most residents don’t mind if I come and have a look by appointment. And that helps to make a more precise valuation. For example, like here, because your kitchen and bathroom have not been addressed since 1995 .”
Because that is what the appraiser wants to emphasize: “We are not concerned with valuing a home as high as possible. What matters is that this is done as accurately as possible. That provides more understanding.” In this way, the West Brabant Tax Cooperation hopes to reduce the number of objectors.
Because in the meantime, the office in Etten-Leur is still working hard to handle the thousands of objections to the determined WOZ value. So far, in 35 percent of cases, objections have been upheld and the value of the house reduced.
This also applies to the reporter’s house: due to the outdated kitchen and bathroom, the WOZ value was adjusted downwards slightly.
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In March, the West Brabant Tax Cooperation already sounded the alarm.