1.Get a list of comparable home sales from the same neighborhood that are close tor same square footage or with similar property characteristics. In my situation I found that my square footage was lower and that they had assumed I had a pool in my backyard. Wrong. That lowered my taxes immediately. Some counties have sales information online. In reference to home sales in your neighborhood. If you can find out what the original asking price was and how low they had to go to get it to sell for that helps.
I downloaded a list of the comparable properties and put them into a spreadsheet then went back and noted the livable square footage, if there was a pool, or any detached buildings (quite a few in my area). If you examine the spreadsheet it becomes pretty apparent that my evaluation was too high for the sq footage and the fact Imhad no pool or detached buildings.
2. If your home is in need of repairs or not in the best of shape they can reduce the estimated assessed value.
3. Check to see if you qualify for exemptions you may not have thought of - homestead, disabled, over 65, etc...
4. File a protest online and put any other comments tha might help. In our situation I stated that we had had a significant decrease in income and stated that I could prove it with bank statements and income tax returns.
That’s what I did anyway...
^ Forgot to mention I took photos to prove my home was in need of the repairs...
“In our situation I stated that we had had a significant decrease in income and stated that I could prove it with bank statements and income tax returns.”
That has no impact on your assessed taxes.
Just finished going through another protest but found out in our county you are better off if you go down and talk to someone rather than mailing the information in. Other things I found out in Brazoria County - two story homes will have comp rates slightly less than one story as one story is more desirable. Repair or replacement costs of privacy fence is no longer considered for any reduction nor is something like installation cost of a root barrier to protect your driveway or the foundation of your house.
Seniors in our county are really taking a hit this year. Our rates are frozen so the only way they can increase our taxes is to increase the value of our property. This ends up being doubly bad because it also increases the amount we pay for wind and property insurance. State legislature needs to start refunding money to property owners instead of giving more money to public schools and subsidies to wind farms.