Housing Survey Data:

1. Under “Exterior” assessors write in a single letter designating the predominant exterior wall material as follows:

• A=Aluminum (usually horizontal lap siding)
• B=Brick, painted or unpainted
• C=Composition, including asbestos shingles, siding that is neither aluminum, vinyl, or wood
• M=Masonry, including concrete block or natural stone
• O=Other, if none of the specific designations fits
• S=Stucco (usually plaster cement applied as an overall surface without joints)
• V=Vinyl (usually horizontal lap siding)
• W=Wood (can be horizontal lap siding, plywood panels, shingles)

2. Under “Roof type” assessors write in one or two letters designating the predominant roof geometry as follows:

• F=Flat, where the assessor cannot see the surface of the roof at all
• G=Gable, which slopes up on only two sides, with the other two sides being vertical wall surfaces
• H=Hip, which slopes up on at least three of a possible four sides, forming a pyramid
• O=Other, which is any roof that does not have one of the above as its primary form
• (Note that many roofs will combine more than one form, in which case you can use multiple letters.  For instance, a GH would have both a gable and hip, possibly multiple gables and hips.)

3. Under “Condition” assessors choose only one of the following:

• ”Sound”=no evident need for repair
• ”Needs minor repairs”=needs simple repairs, at most to building enclosure/shell
• ”Needs major repairs”=needs structural repairs to building
• ”Unfit for use”=uninhabitable, should be condemned, beyond economically justifiable repair

It seems the most difficult comparision is between major and minor repairs.  The most important building systems are foundation, load bearing structure, roof and weather enclosure. The distinction that seems most useful is between repairs to weather enclosure vs. structural repairs.  In a curbside survey the best way to identify whether structural repairs may be necessary is by identifying distortions in the basic building geometry of the enclosure. These may include sagging foundations or roofs, walls out of plumb (not vertical), or primary structure exposed to the elements (large openings in walls where it appears that water has infiltrated the structure for more than one month).  While sagging porches require significant effort to repair, these alone would not constitute a “major repair”, as their failure will not compromise the primary shelter of the weather enclosure, which separates habitable spaces from the elements. On the other hand, porch failure often indicates a more substantial failure of the overall foundation or of the roof above, which will ultimately compromise the structure, and which is a very difficult and major repair.

Minor repairs would constitute everything ranging from cosmetic improvements to maintenance of the weather enclosure, including roof surfacing, wall surfacing, and windows. Structural repair to porches and sitework such as walks, steps and fences would be minor, as long as no structural repair to the weather enclosure is necessary.

The break point from minor to major would seem best designated as when unrepaired roof, window and wall surfaces have had enough time to admit water, weather and vermin into the enclosure, so that the structure is likely rotted to the point that structural repairs will be necessary.  Usually structural failures will be legible in basic distortions (usually subsidence or settling) of the basic enclosure geometry.

4. Under “Significance” assessors choose only one of the following:

• “Very Significant”=a jewel on the street, a beautiful, notable structure
• “Significant”=contributes appropriately to and in harmony with the character of the street
• “Not Significant”=does not contribute appropriately to and in harmony with the character of the street
• “Non-contributing”=an anomaly that is unrelated to the dominant use, scale and form of structures on the street

This assessment measures the present architectural significance, not potential architectural significance.  Therefore “significant” structures would not have any major additions out of character with their original form. Even if these alterations can potentially be removed and the significance of the structure restored, they should be assessed “not significant” as they do not contribute to the predominant character of the street they front.

• A structure may be very significant or significant while also requiring major repairs, but cannot be if it is unfit for use (see above).
• A structure may be very significant or significant while also being only marginally viable, but cannot be if it is not viable (see below).
• “Non-contributing” structures will usually be seen as “out of place”—in either time or use.  Because they are so unusual in their use, scale and form in comparison to the structures around them, it is unlikely that they could have been designed so as to positively contribute to the architectural quality of the street. Structures deemed unfit for use or not viable should be assessed as non-contributing.  

5. Under "Viability” assessors choose only one of the following:

• Viable”=likely to be a habitable dwelling in 30 years
• ”Marginally Viable”= possibly will be a habitable dwelling in 30 years
• ”Not Viable”=will not be habitable in 30 years

This evaluation should relate building condition (established above) to contextual factors.  A dwelling that is sound today should last for 30 years, but its surroundings may make it marginally viable or not viable as a dwelling in the long term.  A single house surrounded by highways is not viable for the long term, no matter its physical condition.

Remember that all structures require ongoing maintenance and investment, which for most owners can be justified only if those costs can be recouped in future real estate sales. While any occupied structure is “viable” in the present, the assessment judges whether a given structure will be useful (justifying its purchase and maintenance) to another owner (30 years) in the future. 

6. Under "Structure" assessors should choose only one of the following:

• ”SingleFamily”=a single dwelling
• ”Duplex”=two dwellings within a single structure
• ”Apartments”=more than two dwellings in a single structure
• ”Church”=any house of worship
• ”Store”=structure where retail transactions available to the public take place, would include restaurants, bars, shops providing services (barber, etc.)
• ”Mfg/Warehouse”=structures used for fabrication or storage

*Note that the structure designations focus on use, so assessors must judge what the last or current use is, and assign that value—vacant structures should be assigned one of the designations above.  Sometimes uses change, so that houses are used as shops, or former churches as stores. Both would be designated as “store”—their current use.

Also note that public uses (parks, schools, government buildings, etc.) are not evaluated. It appears this oversight stems from the use of the tax assessor’s database, which focuses only on taxable properties.  This may be an issue that should be reconsidered for the regional assessment. There will not be a plot designation for these properties, and thus they cannot be entered.

7. The checklist of basic conditions is reviewed for what is visible from the street on the front and sides of the subject property. Check the box when the following conditions are found:

• “Vacant”=appears to not have an owner or renter currently inhabiting the structure regularly
• “Lot unmowed”= appears that grass has not been mowed since the last winter
• “Bldg boarded up”=appears the structure is vacant and has been sealed to keep trespassers out
• “Broken windows”=any broken glass—in primary or storm window—visible from street
• “Abandoned autos”=autos that appear undriveable or unmoved in the last month
• “Unleashed dogs”=dogs off the leash and not enclosed in a fenced yard
• “Graffiti”=any painted or drawn letters or marks on buildings or fences not executed by or for the owner/renter
• “Burglar bars”=at least one barred opening, including a screen or storm door with decorative grilles, that would prevent break-ins in that opening
• “Litter”=any paper, debris, derelict material, abandoned machines (washers, etc.)

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