Case Studies
Real results from real counties. See how APEX Appraisal Solutions helps assessors and appraisers deliver under pressure.
Assessed 15,000 Properties Remotely During COVID-19 Lockdowns
The Challenge
In March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced the Palm Beach County Property Appraiser’s Office to close all physical locations following a statewide ‘Stay at Home’ executive order. Staff needed to work remotely, but strict IT security and VPN restrictions prevented many employees from accessing critical networks and the CAMA system from home.
The Solution
The county leveraged the GeoViewPort (GVP) Desktop Review application. Because the GVP platform provides all data visualization tools in one viewer without requiring access to the county’s restricted internal network, staff could securely analyze fresh aerial imagery and verify sketches directly from their home PCs and laptops.
“One of the biggest ‘work at home’ challenges in a crisis like this is providing work for staff who cannot access the system. Being able to work GVP from home using a PC or laptop without network access is fantastic.”
Evaluated 14,000 Tornado-Damaged Parcels in 11 Days
The Challenge
When twenty-one tornadoes caused catastrophic damage across Montgomery County, blocked roadways and power outages made traditional field evaluations slow and difficult. The Auditor’s Office needed to rapidly assess the widespread property damage so owners could quickly apply for critical FEMA funding and property tax deductions.
The Solution
The county utilized the GeoViewPort (GVP) web-based desktop appraisal platform. By integrating existing pre-storm street-level imagery with new post-disaster aerial photography, staff conducted side-by-side desktop reviews to categorize property damage without navigating hazardous field conditions.
“Without this software, the process of identifying damaged properties would have been more cumbersome, expensive and time consuming.”
Added $9.2M to the Tax Roll Through Desktop Review
The Challenge
The Hillsborough County Property Appraiser needed to modernize operations and save money. They lacked a systematic review process, relying on traditional field work that drove up taxpayer costs for fuel, vehicle repairs, drive time, paper, and printing materials.
The Solution
The county partnered with APEX Appraisal Solutions to transition to a remote validation and review workflow. By implementing the GeoViewPort (GVP) Desktop Review application and Management Module, the HCPA successfully integrated their CAMA application with high resolution aerial photography and geo-referenced sketches.
“With this and other technological improvements we are making in our office, we are literally on the cutting edge of property appraising… And the benefits to the taxpayer more than makes up for the initial investments.”