Revaluation Project 2021-22

The Town of Gorham commenced its revaluation of all real estate in April 2021, which was concluded in August 2022. The results of the revaluation were applied to November 2022 property tax bills. Under the supervision of Cumberland County Regional Assessing, the Town contracted with Vision Government Solutions to perform this work. Read on for details in a Revaluation Fact Sheet.

Project Information

During a revaluation, all real property in the town is reviewed and assessments are adjusted to their fair market value. A revaluation is the process of conducting the data collection and market analysis necessary to equalize the values of all properties within a municipality for the purpose of a fair distribution of the tax burden.

Beginning in late April 2021, data collectors from Vision Government Solutions will begin visiting Gorham properties to conduct exterior evaluations (interior evaluations will not occur until later in 2021 and 2022). 

A revaluation project begins with a Data Collection phase. Gorham will undergo a Full Data Verification Revaluation. Data verification is accomplished through a physical inspection of both the interior and exterior of each property. Improvement dimensions and characteristics are noted.

While the data collection phase took place, appraisers studied property sales and determined where the actual increases and decreases in value were occurring. This study of property sales occurred over a 12-month period prior to April 1, 2022. Appraisers made comparisons and established parameters to estimate the value of property that had not been sold. The appraisers then reviewed this collected data and applied the determining factors of the sales analysis to the value of each property.

Project Schedule 

Collection of property data occurred in two phases. In phase 1, beginning in April 2021 and continuing throughout the year, data collectors inspected the exterior of every property that they were authorized access to in Gorham. Residents did not need to be home for this inspection. Data collectors took measurements and walked around the exterior of the property. In Phase 2 of the project, data collectors asked to see the interior of homes. This phase began in July 2021 and continued into 2022. The inspections would take approximately 10 to 15 minutes. While it is was not mandatory for residents to allow inspectors interior access, the data they collected was vitally important to the accuracy and uniformity of the assessments. 

In spring 2021, data collectors from Vision Government Solutions began visiting Gorham properties to conduct exterior evaluations. The area that data collection will begin will be announced here – please check back for regular updates. 

Health & Safety

Data collectors were trained in all CDC recommended health and safety protocols. They were instructed to always wear masks and maintain six feet of distance from home owners.

All data collectors working on Gorham’s revaluation project worked for Vision Government Solutions of Hudson, Massachusetts. Most of the data collectors conducting Gorham’s revaluation live in Maine and would drive vehicles with Maine license plates. In some cases, however, a data collector may have used a vehicle with an out-of-state plate. Data collectors were to be dressed in bright yellow vests and would be wearing a lanyard and photo identification badge. They would also have a letter of authorization from the Town of Gorham. If at any time, residents were suspicious of an individual asking for entry into their home, they could contact Gorham Police Department at their non-emergency number (207-839-5581) for verification.