Has anybody felt the same way? ...

[Jayz]

Is it a common feeling or fact that when you phone in you feel the clerk/treasurer is not really happy helping answering questions, the reason being, I guess, as a local he/she or anybody he/she knows locally might be interested in the property as well, or he/she'd rather no one bid so the property gets listed or sold through regular real estate transaction that will eventually benefit local folks or community (such as local estate agent ... ) than let an outsider get in?

[Pfm1011]

I actually have found that they have been very helpful and friendly . I have dealt with Muskoka lakes, Niagara and Smith falls and all of them didnt seem at all "distant"   I  do a pile of diligence prior to contacting the cities as they are busy  . So I only call them as a last resort  if I cannot find the info anywhere IE need to locate detailed zoning maps that are not published online etc.


.of course maybe I have just been lucky and caught the people on a good day.

[Pfm1011]

In addition, You have to understand that the city has to be very careful what they say to you as they could lose their job or be sued if they tell you something incorrectly or improperly. Always make sure that any questions they have are not something they shouldn't or cant answer or may be interpreted as advice.

Don't phone and ask.."Off the record, whats the owner like, is he a bum"  or "If I buy it, will the town let me rezone it to be a strip club?

There are very strict guidelines of what a government employee can say and they have to be extra careful in situations such as tax sales where the owner may be vengeful or looking for any excuse to stop the sale.    I know if I was about to lose the family farm, I would be looking for any indiscretion by the city to use as an excuse to jam the sale.

Always take this into account and dont questions that they cannot and should not  answer.

[Jayz]

In addition, You have to understand that the city has to be very careful what they say to you as they could lose their job or be sued if they tell you something incorrectly or improperly. Always make sure that any questions they have are not something they shouldn't or cant answer or may be interpreted as advice.

Don't phone and ask.."Off the record, whats the owner like, is he a bum"  or "If I buy it, will the town let me rezone it to be a strip club?

There are very strict guidelines of what a government employee can say and they have to be extra careful in situations such as tax sales where the owner may be vengeful or looking for any excuse to stop the sale.    I know if I was about to lose the family farm, I would be looking for any indiscretion by the city to use as an excuse to jam the sale.

Always take this into account and dont questions that they cannot and should not  answer.

Thanks for the advice.

I actually just asked questions such as "do you know about this property? Is it run-down or has it been in a fire or flooded something like that?". She was bascially responding "no comments" when I wasn't really asking for comments but facts ... Seems to me she wasn't willing to discuss anything other than info on the paper provided.

[worldjohn]

Some are very helpful, some will not answer questions, some don't know anything, some lie (though rarely).

[Frank]

Some are very helpful, some will not answer questions, some don't know anything, some lie (though rarely).

I've never come across one that would out and out lie about something in these situations.  They have absolutely nothing to gain.  It is common for them to withhold facts which they are aware of since their obligation is simply to give you 'name, rank, and serial number' - so to speak.  Whether that it is because they are making sure that they are not personally named in some future law suit, or because they have a cousin or friend that is putting in a bid (which I suspected in one case), is another question which you may never find the answer to. 

[speedfreeksteve]

Is it a common feeling or fact that when you phone in you feel the clerk/treasurer is not really happy helping answering questions, the reason being, I guess, as a local he/she or anybody he/she knows locally might be interested in the property as well, or he/she'd rather no one bid so the property gets listed or sold through regular real estate transaction that will eventually benefit local folks or community (such as local estate agent ... ) than let an outsider get in?

I wouldn't say common. Most are pretty friendly that I've encountered.

I know that if I had their job I would probably feel annoyed too with dozens of people asking questions about a property that often has very little use or value. I know most would just rather have the owner come and pay their taxes up so that they don't have to have the tax sale.. less work for them.

It seems like some people think there's a conspiracy over things when someone isn't helpful, but I think more often than not they're just tired of answering questions about tax sale properties.. a job that they don't have to do during the normal course of business throughout the year.