There are so many good reasons to have your home's interior value appraised by your community's inspector! Definitely invite them in. Things I've enjoyed from accompanying the inspector inside my home include:
* Information about how my improvements have changed my home's resale value.
* Learning about changes in tax structures.
* Discovering how my neighbors' home improvements (or lack thereof) have improved or decreased the value of my home.
* Getting advice about what things are drawing my value down, and how to improve/repair/replace/upgrade them so my home is more likely to provide a better return on investment.
* As time passes, nothing gets cheaper--unless you don't upgrade your home. It will be worth less and less unless you keep it up.
* Part of keeping up your property's value is having well-maintained roads, clear views at intersections, proactive tree & water control, upgrades in sewer systems to accommodate changes in neighborhoods, better schools, safe bridges, excellent police & fire & emergency rescue staff & equipment, better facilities for voting safely, clean air & water, and more. That all comes from your property taxes, and all those things we rely on can degrade and fall behind, and even wear out & break, when we try to hide our property's value in an effort to pay less taxes. Imagine trying to build the road that goes past your home all on your own budget. You'd never be able to afford it. Now imagine all those other services I listed above, that we all rely on and enjoy to make our homes comfortable and safe, being severely and increasingly underfunded because people act selfishly and don't want to pay their tiny portion of taxes that make those important things possible. That's not right.
I want the inspector inside and outside so I can keep taxes lower--through helping everyone pay the fair amount for those services, instead of just a few people paying lots, and most everyone else hiding their homes' value--all in the name of paying less taxes.
I only see benefits from the inspections. Yes, I may pay another hundred bucks, or more, next year on my home's appreciated value. But the police will be there when I need them. The schools will produce intelligent kids that grow into adults who can innovate and be quickly employed. The roads will have the snow plowed quickly, and potholes repaired, and be painted and serviced when they should be. And the bridges won't be falling down.
All because I, and everyone else, pay the taxes that make those good things possible. Pay your fair share, and donate to your city & state tax funds--you can ear mark special things you're particularly interested in--like libraries or parks or bike paths--to help get them going and maintained properly so you & your family & friends can enjoy them.
Taxes are a good thing--never a burden--if we only consider trying to do without what taxes pay for.