Protesting Your Taxes - Chapter 4

This time I did a two-for-one. I met with the Williamson County Tax Appraiser to talk about two properties I have in the same area of about the same age and size. I thought it would be a slam dunk but regardless of your evidence and reasoning, the appraiser will come up with his own. I thought I had plenty of experience because I had previously protested three assessments this year but the county appraiser argues more than that in an hour.

I was able to get the taxes reduced on the second property but not the first. Still, I think it was worth it because I have been successful with four out of five protests.

Having access to MLS, I was able to find four good comparatives that worked for both properties which were only blocks apart. In a previous protest the appraiser wanted to use comparatives which were not as close in proximity to the subject property as the ones I had. They argued that the properties they were using were within the allowable range. This time, on property number one, they argued that their comparatives were in closer proximity to the subject property and therefore mine were not as valid.

For property number one they had assessed a value of about $155,000 and as I a REALTOR with a lot of experience in that neighborhood I know I couldn't sell it for more than $145,000 - although I wish I could. The appraiser told me his comps could price it as high as $174,000. What!!?? I could not argue him down.

Then we discussed property number two. Same appraiser, same comps, similar size, similar age, only a few blocks from property number one. Now I had him because my comparatives were closer to property number 2 than his and that was the argument he used for property number one so I was able to get the value on property number two reduced about $10,000. Yea!

One of the reasons it helps to get those values reduced aside from the obvious of reducing your taxes is that the county may only increase your taxes by 10% per year, so when values start going up again, and they will, your property will be starting from a lower tax base.

Good luck with those tax protests!

Robin Scott, BROKER. Certified Residential Specialist, Accredited Buyer's Representative, Seller's Representative Specialist. Amelia Bullock Realtors. 512.589.7988.