Depending on the jurisdiction, a property record may include characteristics such as building area, lot size, year built, room or bathroom counts, construction details, garage or basement information, property class and other descriptive fields. What is published — and how those fields are used — varies by assessing authority.
Start with characteristics that can be checked against reliable information you already have, such as building or lot dimensions, year built, bathroom counts and other material property details. Supporting records may include closing documents, surveys, permits or other authoritative documentation where applicable.
Not every discrepancy has a meaningful effect on an assessment. A substantial difference in living area, for example, may materially affect the assessment and deserves review, but its actual effect depends on how the assessing authority values the property.
When FairHome reports that official property characteristics are unavailable or unconfirmed, that does not mean a value should be guessed. Some jurisdictions publish characteristics sparsely or not at all, and homeowner-provided information can be kept distinct from the official record when additional context is needed.