More than 75% of properties in Bangor have been visited by data collectors as part of the city’s two-year revaluation process, but only 17% have received internal inspections so far.
While 1,459 sites in Bangor have received internal inspections as of August 2025, nearly 5,300 others have only been measured and no interior data has been collected, according to a progress report from KRT Appraisal, a Massachusetts-based real estate appraiser the city hired to complete the process. This was done because the owner wasn’t home or the property is occupied by a tenant.
Another 145 property owners refused to let data collectors inside, and “no trespassing” signs were posted on another 204 sites, preventing inspectors from gathering information, according to the report, which the City Council reviewed during a workshop on Monday.
The citywide revaluation — Bangor’s first in nearly 40 years — began last year and requires data collectors from the company to inspect the more than 11,000 homes, industrial spaces and commercial properties in the city.
The goal of revaluing properties in a city is to ensure residents are being taxed fairly for what they own and the city’s tax burden is divided equitably. While some residents’ tax bills may go up after the revaluation, others could see their bills decrease or stay roughly the same.
During an internal inspection, which takes about 15 minutes, data collectors gather information on the size and condition of the home. They document details such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, if the attic or basement is finished, and what type of heating and cooling equipment the building has, the city’s website states. Inspectors will also note any deferred maintenance or renovations and what materials were used in those updates.
Philip Drew, Bangor city assessor, said he was hoping to see more participation from the public and encouraged owners to allow assessors to look at the inside of their properties, as that gives the city the best data possible and ensures an owner’s property value assessment is accurate.
“I didn’t think the participation rate would be this low,” Drew said. “It’s up to the property owner to decide.”
When a data collector can’t see the inside of a home, they’re forced to estimate property data by looking at and measuring the outside of the building.
The owners of the properties where data collectors haven’t completed internal inspections will receive letters in the mail that asks them to call KRT Appraisal and schedule a visit, if they want to have an interior inspection conducted.
The value of a person’s home does not impact the city’s tax rate, but will determine how much an individual pays.
Bangor’s current property tax rate, which is determined through municipal, county and school budgets, is $17.70 per $1,000 of valuation. This means a home worth $200,000 will receive a $3,540 tax bill while a $400,000 home will pay $7,080 in taxes.
The process is slated to finish in summer 2026 and residents’ new property values are expected to take effect in September 2026.