BC 2011 10 17 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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October 17, 2011 (Regular Meeting) Page 713 INTRODUCTION DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES IN THE FIELD Fieldwork should be approached with three basic components in mind: Collection or verification of measurements of any improvements including correction of any such measurements and recording information correctly on the field data collection instrument. The first two topics are discussed in this chapter; the third in the next chapter. COLLECTION OR VERIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION DATA This involves two basic techniques. The majority of the data is confirmed by a visual inspection and can be done while walking up to the front door. It is helpful to give the area you are covering a "windshield" preview while looking for a parking spot. This gives a good indication of the typical exterior components such as roofs and exterior walls and helps develop a "feel" for the neighborhood. In order to work at maximum efficiency, plan your route ahead of time. Check your map and arrange cards in the order you will want to walk; ideally stopping and starting at the same point. Exarle Park Start Stop As you approach each house, check your exterior walls, roof structure, roof cover; look for indications of heating type - fireplace, compressors, oil drums, etc. COLLECTION OR VERIFICATION OF CONSTRUCTION DATA, cont. Identify yourself and your purpose, remembering at all times to be polite and respectful, your identification card should be displayed on your shirt above the waist and the identifying signs should be on each side of your car. One approach is as follows: "Good morning. My name is John Doe and I am with the Cabarrus County Assessor's office; verifying data for the County Tax Reassessment. I need to ask you a few questions and walk around the outside of the house." Usually, most people are cooperative. Remember, your job is solely to collect or verify data; not to come up with the assessment value. While you are introducing yourself, glance inside to check for interior wall construction, flooring, and indications of heating and cooling systems. Your three questions can be asked as follows: "What sort of floors do you have ?" (Don't confuse rugs with carpet. The latter is physically secured to the floor; rugs are not.) "How do you heat and cool your house ?" (If they don't know, and that happens, you can almost always see physical indications from the outside such as a chimney, heat pump or an oil drum. "How many bathrooms and bedrooms do you have ?" Then, "Thank you very much. Now all I need to do is take a quick look around the outside, okay?"