In the normal course of highway construction or road expansion, ALDOT or municipality will identify what private property they need for a project. Next, they have the property appraised and make an offer based off that professional “appraisal” to the land owner/ Typically, the land owner accepts the government’s word.
However, I discovered deceptive (unlawful?) practice in a case this summer.
The appraiser is supposed to appraise the property at its highest and best use. However, ALDOT appraisers are not, in fact, appraising the property. They are employing a larger parcel (to decrease the per unit value) although the property does not have a unity of highest and best use. This is contrary to the rules of appraisal.
How often has ALDOT advised unknowing landowners of a “valuation” using this deceptive method.
