"guess it depends how much you enjoy gambling with bureaucracy, huh?"
True, but honestly, it's not always as random as gambling. I think it's more about knowing your local office's reputation. In my old neighborhood, appealing was practically asking for trouble—assessor had a reputation for nitpicking everything. But where I live now, they're surprisingly chill if you come prepared. Maybe talking to neighbors who've appealed before could save you from rolling the dice blindly...
Totally agree—knowing your office's vibe is half the battle. When I refinanced, I made a quick checklist: gathered recent comps, took clear pics of updates, and asked around the block who'd appealed successfully. Went smoother than expected... bureaucracy doesn't have to be a total headache.
That's a solid approach, especially the part about chatting with neighbors who've been through it. I tried that once, but ended up with way too many conflicting opinions—felt like I was polling the neighborhood on pizza toppings, haha. Curious though, did you find the comps or the photos made a bigger difference in your appeal? I've heard mixed things about how much assessors actually pay attention to homeowner-submitted pics...
"Curious though, did you find the comps or the photos made a bigger difference in your appeal?"
Honestly, comps usually carry more weight. Assessors love numbers and hard data—it's their comfort zone. Photos can help, but only if they're clear and directly highlight something significant (like obvious damage or outdated features). I once submitted pics of my "vintage" avocado-green bathroom tiles...the assessor probably laughed, but it did help illustrate my point about outdated interiors affecting value. Bottom line: prioritize solid comps first, then sprinkle in photos as supporting evidence.
Totally agree, comps are king. Last time I appealed, the assessor barely glanced at my pics of peeling paint and cracked driveway...but the comps sealed the deal. Sounds like you're on the right track, good luck!
