You’ve received your New Brunswick Property Assessment in the mail… now what? Review it!!! 

It has important information on it and it determines what your property taxes will be based on this year. 

1. Verify the contact information and names it’s addressed to (those are the ones on the title as well)

2. Property Identification are helpful when you’re going to sell and your Realtor is doing their homework to look up the info

3. Property Location & description should be reviewed for accuracy- is it a residence & lot or a vacant land? 

4. Property assessment Info is the details of how your property taxes will be determined in March. Verify if it’s owner-occupied- if not, there is additional tax that will be charged. The Spike protection will cap the amount that can be taxed and it’s max amount the taxable assessment can be increased is 10% year to year (excluding new construction or if you’ve done major renovations). 

5. On the right will be a 5 year history of your assessment values.

If you don’t agree with the assessed value, you can decide if you’re going to apply to appeal the assessment. Before you call, ask yourself- if I were to sell my house today, would it sell for the assessed value? If you find yourself saying yes more than likely then you might not want to make that call. They can come back and reassess at a higher price if they’ve narrowed in on your property. You will need details on why you don’t agree so you’ll need to do some homework to provide. As your local Realtor, I’m happy to have a conversation about the market in your area and if needed am able to provide a report for you. You have until February 14 2024 to file an appeal. 

If an appeal is needed here are the things you will need to have: 

Property Account Number (PAN) 

Access Key 

Full, complete and detailed reasons for objecting to the Real Property Assessment value 

Full name, mailing address (including postal code) and telephone number

Get ahead of your tax bill in March to determine an approximate value you will have to pay by May… find your municipal tax rate! Saint John city adjusts their tax rate on a yearly basis according to what the province shares for general increases and what is needed in the budget. Saint John city’s tax rate for 2024 is $1.58/ $1000 of taxable assessed value (a decrease from $1.71 in 2023). 

I’m always here to help!

Renee 

Is the New Year giving you New House vibes?? Are you ready to make a move, whether it to downsize, upsize, or relocate?? The market is still a seller's market but be aware that you still want to bring your best on day 1 to get top dollar! Working with a Realtor early in your planning can help reduce the stress and focus on what will really help your property shine for potential buyers.

Here are some steps to begin the process of preparing your home for sale:

1. Declutter, declutter, and declutter some more. The old saying of "less is more" fits well when getting ready to sell. Clear surfaces, clean out closets, drawers, and cabinets. You're getting ready to move so putting items you don't want to get rid of into boxes neatly stacked is better than piles of stuff in the open.

2. Deep clean! Hire someone if you can. After you've decluttered it's time for a deep clean to get the dust bunnies out. A fresh clean smelling house can really help a potential buyer picture themselves in the house.

3. Complete the small maintenance tasks- paint touch ups, replace the cracked outlet cover, put the transition strip in the doorway, replace the weather stripping around the doors, tack the trim around that door… you get the idea. Your Realtor should have a contact for a handy helper if needed!

4. Update finishes, if possible. Replacing light fixtures, cupboard and drawer pulls, interior doors, counter tops can really change the feel of a home with minimal effort.

5. Check the yard!! Pick up any debris, toys, ornaments, and anything else that doesn't belong. Clean up the gardens. Keep it simple and tidy.

These are a few tips that will get you started and I highly recommend getting in touch with your Realtor before tackling any projects that might have a cost to them. Working with your Realtor early in the process as they are a great resource to help with ideas, contacts for hired help, and suggestions on where best to focus your efforts. Some projects might not be necessary while others could be the difference of significant money.

If you’re ready to make a move today let’s start the conversation!! 

Renée Archibald

Real Estate Agent | Greater Saint John

506.271.1106