How to Hire a Condemnation Attorney
While every state has some kind of property tax law, Texas’ is slightly different. You have received your notice of appraised value in the mail, which gives you’re your property’s value last year, the current market value, and the appraised value. The appraised value is what will determine your taxes for the current year. You have the right to protest the market value, which directly affects the appraised value. It’s your right to protest and it’s your money! Don’t be afraid to file a protest, many do. The following will detail easy methods to present a successful protest.
The first stage of the protest process is called the informal conference. It is exactly what it sounds like; you arrive at your scheduled time and meet one on one with the appraiser. Most cases are settled during this process, so you want to bring as much information when you can. If you can settle the difference here, you will save time by avoiding the formal conference. If the case moves to formal conference, cases for the current appraised value will be presented by an appraiser and the Appraisal Review Board.
First, develop a packet of all the basic information. You should be providing information that supports your argument that your property was over-valued (which resulted taxes that are too high). One key piece should be comparative sale values of homes in the area. Only include homes of similar size and type. Keep in mind, you are protesting the previous year’s value so only include homes sold in that time frame. If homes in the area have been selling for significantly higher than your value, it’s best to leave this out. Note the appraised square footage. If the quantity is higher than the actual square footage of the property, your taxes will be higher. The appraiser does not actually come in and verify the square footage. Even if it is over by 100sq.ft, it can add up quickly. Provide proof of the proper square footage. You may include photos as well. So be sure all of your numbers are documented and sourced. You can be creative, include graphs, spreadsheets, and other designs.
Next, you will want to document problems that would affect the market value that the appraiser would not have known about. These must be serious and costly problems, such as a bad foundation or insect problems and not a bad basketball hoop. You will need to support these claims, so you should include photos and an estimate from a reputable repair firm.If other homes in the area have these same problems, note that and their cost of repair. Don’t be afraid to include your opinion. You understand the home better than anyone else.
You will need to do some work in preparing your case. Don’t be afraid to ask realtors for a list of sale costs of homes in area. Take good photos and label them. Most importantly, practice your presentation. Like any speaker, the more practice the better it will sound. You have to also prepare for questions, have answers ready and don’t waver on your facts or answers. Keep in mind you are under oath, so do not lie or embellish reality. The property tax law states you have the right to protest; don’t let it go to waste. The more professional and prepared your presentation is the more likely you are to win and save your valuable hard earned money.
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