Homeowner urges regrade of A+1 home; board affirms assessor after close vote

Ross Galada appealed his 2026 assessment, telling the Albemarle County Board of Equalization that his house was improperly classified as A+1 and that three other homes built by the same builder in his South Fork Farms neighborhood were graded lower.

“Those three homes were built by the same builder, same neighborhood, same construction characteristics. There is just no evidence of superior materials, systems or architecture that justifies this inconsistency of grading,” Galada said during his allotted presentation time.

Assessor’s staff responded that both grade and style feed the base-rate calculation and that one-story versus multi-story differences affect the base rate; staff provided interior photographs and earlier appraisal notes. Appraiser Jeff said the assessor’s one‑story comparables had base rates closer to the subject and pointed to cabinet quality and other fixtures when defending the A+1 rating.

Board members deliberated over two options raised repeatedly in the hearing: (1) hold the appeal and allow the assessor to re-inspect the interior and provide an item-by-item “A vs. A+” grid supported by photographs, or (2) equalize the subject to the other Peak-built homes in the neighborhood if the board agreed they were similar. Several members said the grading distinction can be subtle and that photos or a follow-up interior checklist would be more persuasive than oral testimony alone.

After discussion, a motion to reduce the grade failed; a subsequent motion to affirm the assessor’s 2026 assessment carried 3–2. The board cited the assessor’s evidence and the lack of a clear, newly supplied interior record proving a misgrade.

The board’s action leaves the assessor’s valuation in place for this tax year; several members encouraged the parties to work with assessor staff to collect interior photos and comparable evidence in case the matter returns for further review.