Hey Chicago and Cook County, if you are one of those who is going to get slapped with a new and improved real estate tax bill, listen up:

I had a neighbor that just came into our office to get a valuation of his property.  His tax appeal attorney said that he needed a CMA.  A CMA only works if your home is dated, you have metal kitchen cabinets, cast iron sinks with the wing for drying.  If you are improved, the CMA won't help you much as the values are based on a "curve" generalistic type of basis.

That being said, this is what was missed on this man's appeal:

A.  Square Footage was wrong on his building

B.  It was a two-flat.  I asked him if he had income coming in for the building and did he have any vacancies this past year.  You know what he said?  "My second floor has been vacant since my Mom died a couple years ago!"  You have loss of income on the building.

C.  He served in the Army (never reported)

D.  He is retired and on a fixed income!  Not noted.

E.   He has the metal kitchen cabinets with fuses. 

F.   Never filed a seniors exemption or the senior freeze! 

Before you go off and get upset about your bill, review your information online at the Cook County Assessor's Office and see if the information is correct!

Have some questions, give me a call.