Many of you are turning your attention to property taxes as the deadline for payment approaches. If you would like to protest your value, you must file a written protest with your county’s central appraisal district (most counties have this form online). Here are some hints you may find helpful when protesting your appraisal:
*Check the appraisal to make sure the property description and measurements of your property are correct.
*If you have had “hidden defects” such as a foundation repair, unusable spaces due to needed repairs or serious plumbing issues, you can present receipts and/or photographs as evidence of things that may negatively impact the value of your home.
*Ask us, as licensed realtors, to provide you with data on comparable sales. We can almost always find low sales that you can use to make a case.
*The appraisal district must provide you with any information, formulas, schedules, etc. that they used to determine your value. The law requires the appraisal district to allow you the opportunity to inspect during the 14 days before your hearing.
*Look online at the taxing entity’ website for your address and then it’s neighbors. You can look for inconsistencies this way. We can help with this, too!
*If you purchased your home in the last year, the closing statement showing your purchase price, if it is lower than the appraised value, is usually sufficient evidence.
*Some counties in Texas allow you to protest online or in written form, so you may want to investigate your options. If you go in person, be sure you have 4 copies of all written evidence so that each panel member can review.
*Your first meeting is usually an informal meeting with a staff appraiser who is authorized to make changes if the evidence is substantive. If you need to continue the process to the more formal hearing, that will be scheduled at a different time. Be on time for all of your scheduled meetings as most appraisal districts are reluctant to reschedule without sufficient cause. They are not obligated to work with your schedule.

As licensed agents with many years of experience, we are always happy to help you in any way possible with your real estate needs. We do not want to just open a few doors for you, but instead want to provide a full range of professional real estate services to our clients and friends! Call us anytime.