Appraisals
Residential Appraisers
Appraisers in the Douglas County Assessor's office are assigned neighborhoods and communities throughout Douglas County for the purpose of inspecting properties, measuring and photographing houses, maintaining current and accurate information about parcels and setting assessed values on those parcels.
Appraisers use professional mass appraisal methods and standards to arrive at valuations, which are established for the assessment date of January 1 each year.
The most common reason for home values to change is a market adjustment, reflecting the value of similar properties sold in the real estate market. Other reasons a particular property may increase or decrease in value could include the addition of new improvements, a remodeling or rehabilitation of an existing structure, destruction or removal of a structure, positive or adverse neighborhood influences on the property, or an order for valuation increases mandated by state government.
The Fair Share program
The Douglas County Assessor revalues residential property on a neighborhood-by-neighborhood basis, comparing similar properties to one another and to like properties which have sold in the current real estate market. The objective is fair, accurate and equalized assessment, to assure that no one property owner would be asked to pay more than their fair share in property taxes.
Commercial Appraisers
Commercial appraisers in the Douglas County Assessor's office are assigned business property structure types throughout Douglas County for the purpose of inspecting properties, maintaining current and accurate information about parcels and setting assessed values on those parcels.
Appraisers use professional mass appraisal methods and standards to arrive at valuations, which are established for the assessment date of January 1 each year.
While our residential appraisers are assigned specific neighborhoods, our commercial appraisers divide their responsibilities based on the sub-markets of commercial property. For example, one appraiser is responsible for all apartment complexes, while another focuses on office buildings. Commercial appraisal also differs from residential valuation, as our commercial appraisers also consider income and expense data in the appraisal process.