Appraiser Sean Sullivan explains New Providence revaluation process, inspections and appeals

An appraisal firm contracted by the town of New Providence explained how the upcoming property revaluation will work and what homeowners should expect.

At an informal public meeting, Sean Sullivan of Professional Property Appraisals told residents that a revaluation recalculates every parcel’s assessment to reflect "what it can sell for in today's market," a process intended to equalize tax burden across the municipality while the municipal budget itself remains largely unchanged.

Sullivan said the firm will rely on comparable sales and market adjustments to set values and will inspect properties to verify exterior measurements and basic interior condition. "To determine a true value of the property you have to get a full scope of what's going on within the property," he said, describing interior walkthroughs used to confirm square footage, finished basements and attics, and other factors not always visible in public records.

Why it matters: When the town’s total assessed value changes, the tax rate is adjusted so the municipal budget is divided across the new grand list. Sullivan gave a…