A Survey Approach for Demonstrating Stigma Effects in Properly Value Litigation

摘要

There are many reasons why similar properties command different prices. The determination that property value differences exist among comparable properties is a primary task for appraisers. Once a price difference has been determined, identifying the causes for such differences is central to legal claims of stigma. Plaintiffs have the burden of demonstrating a causal connection between the purported source of stigmatization and the responses of buyers. This article presents an approach for designing a survey to address stigma issues and meet the legal requirements for admitting survey data as evidence. The survey does not attempt to quantify dollar losses; it is intended to show a link between negative values in the sales data and negative perceptions of properties in the class area.