Got the new appraisal for tax purposes on the house yesterday. They think my house jumped $30,000 in value. I complained, they told me to go jump in a lake. I have decided, trying to make my place nice is only going to cause me punishment from the taxing authorities. I am thinking of quitting the gardening thing, not watering, not planting, not doing anything. It just isn't worth it. If I make it look nice, it makes the value go up.
I'm not familiar with how your homes are valued for tax purpose over there, but here having a lovely garden will not influence the taxes. It will however influence the price we'll get when we sell it.
Thats called home improvements here and it cost more in land taxes value. I hate the way they do your buildings they measure the size of all out building and value at the square foot even if it is falling down.
Geeez WTx,, Thats just horriable! You would think they would take into concideration all the money put into a garden or outdoor home improvements and not include that in the value, since they aren't like putting on a new room for example. Each year can be different, where as a room is a room, the structure doesn't change. Plants can die, or a whole area can die off, what then, its not the same as it was the yr before. Thats not right.
Alhough I do think that the taxman gets waaaay too much of our money I would never think of giving up my garden. Just think, if and when the day comes, how much more you'd get if you sold your house with a beautiful garden instead of waste land.
mess They have robbed me of my zest for living in this county. Although the value of individual homes is determined by the sales price of homes in the area that sold, they get to pick the most expensive sellers and use that to value your house. I have an appeal filed, but I am not hopeful. I think they should tax economic activity, rather than non-income producing property.
Well WTD, this is the first time that I have ever heard of a garden having a negative effect. As long as you are living in that county with such unfair taxing practices, who could blame you for taking such drastic actions. It's just a shame. It sounds like it's time for a organized protest by the county's citizens (or at the minimum, the county's home owners). I assunme that each county decides for itsself what sort of taxing formula to use to tax it's citizens. These people are perhaps elected, and thus would be sensitive to negative publicity especially at election time. Personally, I could let something that cost me 30,000 dollars influence my vote. It affects me and my wallet directly. Oh well... the bottom line is that it is not nice that you should be penalized for having a pleasurable and harmless hobby...one that; by the way, adds to the general beauty of community.
Wtx Someone nearby had a huge tax appraisal. So he put his home up for sale at what they appraised it for. No bids, not 1! A home is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it right? I think he won out in the end & they lowered it. And I knew of a county, I think in PA somewhere, where homeowners were given tax BREAKS if they improved the yard or building. It encouraged everyone to keep things nice so more people would want to move there.
Write an article in the editorial section of your local newspaper, then start a petition to have your county property assessor removed from office.
What a rotten thing! I feel for you Don't give up something you enjoy and are good at just because of the tax man. Gardening is such a good stress reliever and just think of the memories you are creating with your little girl and Shelley Deanna :-D
WTxDaddy I live in Madison county.Last I heard our Taxes are 85 percent.One of the highest in Texas.I pay out the nose in taxes way out in the country.
not gonna quit Well, I was just posting while emotional about the tax valuation. I won't give up gardening. I bought a mess of petunias yesterday! I will just have to fight it at a protest hearing. Our appraisal district is staffed by appointed people and the board is appointed by the various taxing entities in the region: city, county, water district, school districts, hospital district. If they do not lower my valuation, I will go to the elected officials of the entities which tax me and complain to them that their appointees are screwing the citizens over. It's not that I think I live in a shacl (although it is less than ideal) it's that the rise in valuation over 2 years is $30,000! That's too much of a jump. I thought about testing the market by putting a for sale sign in the yard at their asking price just to see. I think that could backfire, though. My little town is 10 miles East of the big city. Lots of folks move from small towns to my small town. They get to be near the big city (200,000 people) and their doctors & the airpoprt and all the big city stuff, but have the small town atmosphere. I admit that houses sell pretty well here, as there are not as many houses as their are potential buyers. It is a seller's market here most of the time, because so many people want to move here. But our real estate does sell for less than the stuff in the big city, according to a friend of mine, who's a realtor & a lawyer. He told me once, this house we're in would go for significantly more in the big city than what we paid for it. For that reason, I think an inflated price might not scare buyers away. Plus, I wouldn't want to deal with the lookie-lous.
I think Griphook has some wonderful advice, WestTxDaddy. 1. I thought at first you could just sell your home, and move to Norway near Droopy and Biita . . . 2. Then I thought of your new name WestNorwayDaddy . . . it just aint right . . . Better stay, keep gardening, and at least voice your feelings. I am sure you are not alone. That is the way it is here in NC too . . . especially automobiles and gas . . . rules and regulations with inspections, car emission standards, taxes and high gas prices. If they can't get us one way . . . they will just get us another. I guess it's just the price that we pay for living in the land of the free.
I know over here landscaping/gardening counts for nothing for taxes - it's all in the land/square footage, outbuildings and location... Ours went up too, but so did everyone around us whether they were gardening or not - so we might as well enjoy our plants. Nothing is more therapeutic than grubbing about in the dirt...
