I've tried the whole "mentioning comps" thing before, and honestly, I'm skeptical it does much. Assessors usually have their own data anyway. But hey, can't hurt to casually drop a few hints, right?
"Not sure if it actually helped lower our assessment though..."
Yeah, that's the kicker—hard to ever really know if it made a difference or if they were just humoring us...
We just went through this last year—mentioned a few comps we thought were relevant. Honestly, no clue if it helped. The assessor nodded politely, but our final assessment barely budged. Felt more like a courtesy than anything meaningful...
"Honestly, no clue if it helped. The assessor nodded politely, but our final assessment barely budged."
Did you just bring comps, or did you also include any recent appraisals or documented repairs/improvements? Assessors often nod politely at comps alone because they're already working from their own data. I've found that providing concrete evidence of recent issues—like a roof replacement or foundation repairs—can sometimes move the needle more effectively. Did you have anything like that to show them?
Honestly, comps alone rarely do the trick. Assessors see those all day long, and they're usually pretty set in their ways. Last year, I went in armed with comps thinking I'd nailed it, and the assessor just smiled politely and barely glanced at them. Felt like I'd brought cookies to a bake sale, you know?
What actually made a difference for me was documentation of recent repairs. I had receipts and photos from when we replaced our ancient HVAC system and fixed some water damage in the basement. The assessor perked right up when I pulled those out—suddenly, it wasn't just me saying "my house isn't worth that much," it was concrete proof that the property had issues that impacted its value.
If you haven't done any major repairs lately, even smaller stuff can help. Did you repaint or replace flooring? Maybe fix some plumbing or electrical issues? Even minor improvements or repairs can sometimes help justify a lower valuation. Assessors seem to respond better when you show them actual money spent rather than just market comparisons.
Also, don't underestimate the power of timing. I learned the hard way that appealing right after a neighborhood sale at a high price can backfire spectacularly. If your neighbor just sold their place for top dollar, your comps might actually hurt your case. Better to wait until things cool down a bit.
Anyway, property taxes are a headache no matter how you slice it. But bringing solid evidence of actual expenses or issues seems to be the best bet for nudging that needle downward. Good luck—hope you manage to shave off a few bucks!
