Town of Hopkinton – Cyclical Inspection Program

The collection and maintenance of current and accurate property information is a critical element in the development of fair and uniform market values in the assessment process. In fact, the Bureau of Local Assessment of the Department of Revenue requires that every community inspect every property in town at least once every nine years. This process is known as the cyclical inspection program. Please note, however, that the Town of Hopkinton tries to inspect every property at least once every five or six years in an effort to maintain fair and equitable values throughout the town. The inspections are done by in-house staff that carry an identification badge with their photograph and are usually, but not always, in a Town of Hopkinton municipal vehicle. The assessed value is not revised during the inspection. The inspection is to collect information in order to correct and/or change the information on the property. That information is then entered into our Patriot CAMA System and the changes along with our statistical analysis and market adjustments are used each year to determine the new assessed values. The staff will initiate the inspection by knocking on the door or ringing the doorbell and asking the homeowner for permission to do a complete exterior and interior inspection of the property. The property inspection will include exterior photographs; exterior measurements of the building and all other structures on the property like a pool or shed; an interior inspection to note items such as the number of rooms and bedrooms and bathrooms, the physical condition/quality of the property, the kitchen, floor coverings, heating/cooling system and basement finish because these and other items do contribute to the value of the property. If the property owner is not home when the staff person arrives at the property, a door hanger will be left asking the owner to call to schedule an appointment for the interior inspection. Please note that the staff person will photograph the exterior and measure the exterior of the property regardless of whether or not the owner is present. In conclusion, whether prompted by the cyclical inspection program, a building permit or a sale of the property, a program of regular inspections enables the town to remain in compliance with the requirements of the Department of Revenue and to maintain accurate information on property and to ensure that all taxpayers are assessed equitably and fairly. The property inspections are done during the normal business hours of Town Hall. Please call the Assessor’s Office at 508-497-9720 if you prefer to make an appointment for an inspection or if you have any questions.