Don’t Shut Out the Assessor
You do not have to allow the tax assessor into your home. However, what typically happens if you do not permit access to the interior is that the assessor assumes you’ve made certain improvements (such as added fixtures or made exorbitant refurbishments). This could result in a bigger tax bill.
Many towns have a policy to the effect that if the homeowner does not grant full access to the property, the assessor will automatically assign the highest assessed value possible for that type of property – fair or not. At this point, it’s up to the individual to dispute the evaluation with the town, which, incidentally, will be nearly impossible unless access to the interior is ultimately granted. The lesson: allow the assessor to access the home. If you’ve obtained permits for all improvements you’ve made to the property, you should be fine.