SOUTH JORDAN, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nearmap, a location content provider specializing in high-resolution aerial imagery, is changing the way property assessments are being conducted in Bexar County, Texas by the Bexar Appraisal District, effectively improving the accuracy of appraisals as well as reducing time and liability concerns related to onsite assessments.
With more than 550,000 residences in Bexar County, the fourth-largest county in Texas, which includes the city of San Antonio, and only 154 employees in the Bexar Appraisal District, Nearmap high-resolution PhotoMaps™ allow appraisers to conduct evaluations and appraisals without visiting the site. Thus, reducing the liability and time spent visiting individual homes.
Previously, Bexar Appraisal District was utilizing imagery with 6-inch pixel resolution. With Nearmap’s 2.8-inch GSD resolution, the images are much more detailed, allowing appraisers to gather more accurate data. For example, the increased clarity allows appraisers to easily visualize if a new building is in the frame-up stage or beyond, or determine the difference between permanent or temporary structures in a residential backyard. With $3.9 billion in new construction in the county, Nearmap high-resolution aerial photos also enable Bexar to verify completion stages of new construction.
“Using Nearmap, we can now denote and accurately appraise properties clearly distinguishing property features,” said Scott Griscom, assistant chief appraiser for the Bexar Appraisal District. “With the level of clarity we have using Nearmap imagery, it’s very easy to tell what’s in the backyard. The exact same approach applies to outbuildings, porches, roofs and other attributes of properties that make a difference in property value.”
Nearmap’s frequently updated aerial imaging is better than satellite imagery because it also allows for appraisers to view a property in varying conditions such as leaf-off and leaf-on, something that is particularly important for a city like San Antonio which is known for an abundance of mature trees.
When residents aren’t at the property during the assessment, appraisers no longer attempt to access backyards. Instead, they cue up Nearmap on their office computers to view the property. Nearmap imagery has also reduced the need to send appraisers out into the field for subsequent property visits, saving time and reducing liability concerns. Nearmap’s ability to tie directly into Bexar’s CAMA system allows appraisers to see all of the county’s parcel information right on top of the imagery. In addition, because Nearmap updates its imagery two or three times each year, assessors can verify changes in properties over time, improving the accuracy and completeness of the assessment.
“Our goal at Bexar Appraisal District is to get the appraisal as accurate as possible,” reports Michael Amezquita, Chief Appraiser for Bexar County. “The aerial imagery provided by Nearmap provides us with timely imagery we can rely on allowing us to complete our job on time.”
With Nearmap imagery, Amezquita and Griscom believe the office can increase the quality of property assessments—reducing the interval of property characteristics review from every three to five years down to about three years for each property. Most importantly, Bexar is using Nearmap to create highly competent appraisals that cut down on the number of appeals and shorten the appeal process. Now, they can do much more with existing staff.
About Nearmap
Nearmap brings the real world to you. We capture, manage and deliver the most current location content in the world, allowing businesses and governments to explore their environment easily. With Nearmap, organizations unlock opportunities that consistently inform decision-making and transform the way they work. Our high-resolution, frequently updated aerial imagery is 2.8-inch GSD, better than satellite imagery. Delivered within days of capture, Nearmap shows changes over time. Users save time and money, reduce site visits and efficiently plan with current, clear imagery.
Nearmap is delivered through a refreshingly easy-to-use interface called MapBrowser™ or accessed via Esri®, Autodesk and CAMA systems.
Free trials of Nearmap are available. For more information, visit http://go.nearmap.com. To learn more about how aerial imagery is used in the property appraisal process, you can attend the webinar on April 19th at 1 PM ET: Empowering Property Appraisers with Current Aerial Imagery.
About Bexar Appraisal District
Bexar Appraisal District is responsible for appraising all real and business personal property within Bexar County, Texas. The district appraises property according to the Texas Property Tax Code and the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practices (USPAP). For more information on Bexar Appraisal District, visit www.bcad.org.
