The Alachua County Property Appraiser’s Office provides this definition of “actual year built”: 

The year that a building on the property was originally constructed. The year 1900 is used when no year of construction is on file.

And here is their definition of “effective year built”:

Part of the cost approach used to measure depreciation, determined by the utility and condition of the building.

To translate into simple terms, while the actual year built is the original construction date, the effective year built is a subjective adjustment of the age by the property appraiser based on more recent improvements and remodeling. A home with an actual year built of 1954 and an effective year built of 1977 means that the home was significantly improved or remodeled in 1977 or that it has been upgraded to a condition similar to a home built in 1977.

    If construction was started on a home in one year, but it was completed in the following year, the completion year (when the certificate of occupancy, also called a “CO,” was issued) is listed as the actual year.

    Also, see our blog post What determines the year of a house?

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  To learn more strategies for getting the best possible home inspection, here’s a few of our other blog posts:

• How can I make sure I don't get screwed on my home inspection? 

• How thorough is a home inspector required to be when inspecting a house?

• Should I trust the Seller's Property Disclosure Statement?

• Can I do my own home inspection?

• How can homebuyers protect themselves against buying a house over a sinkhole? 

• The seller gave me a report from a previous home inspection. Should I use it or get my own inspector? 

    To read about issues related to homes of particular type or one built in a specific decade, visit one of these blog posts:

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1940s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1950s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1960s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1970s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1980s house?

• What are the common problems to look for when buying a 1990s house?

• What problems should I look for when buying a country house or rural property? 

• What problems should I look for when buying a house that has been moved?

• What problems should I look for when buying a house that has been vacant or abandoned?

• What are the most common problems with older mobile homes?

• What do I need to know about a condo inspection?

• What are the "Aging In Place" features to look for when buying a retirement home?

   Visit our HOME INSPECTION page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.