Every year in Fulton County, property tax bills get sent out, and every year, homeowners are faced with huge bills that can have a serious impact on their budget. Whether you were prepared for the bill or not, everyone likes to save money. And the fact is that your tax bill could very well be too high. So many homeowners go through the appeals process, in an attempt to keep their bills fair and easier to afford.
However, the process is can be a lengthy one, and it involves many steps. What we do when we assist Fulton County homeowners is:
- We file the property tax appeal.
- We gather research to prove that your home is being over-assessed.
- We negotiate with the county assessor.
- We prepare for the hearing and attend with you.
But not all homeowners go through a professional to do the appeals. Here are five big mistakes that we often see that you can avoid as you prepare for a tax appeals process.
1. Forfeiting your chance to appeal by missing the hearing.
The most important thing about this lengthy Fulton County property tax appeal process is that you attend any appeals hearing that you are notified for. If you miss this hearing, your appeal is forfeit. You won’t be able to appeal again till the following tax year, and you will have to pay this year’s tax bill. We are able to ensure that this doesn’t happen by attending with you, and appearing for you in the initial negotiations.
2. Not gathering enough research about your home’s true value.
One thing that you do need is the value of your neighbors’ homes. However, you can rely solely on the assessments of your neighbors’ homes. While this number helps to establish how much homes in your area should be worth, there are many things that could make your home value differently on your Fulton County property tax bill. You may be able to sell your home for more than your neighbors because you have a bigger lot and your home has more updates. On the other hand, your home could sell for less than your neighbors because your home is older and doesn’t have a fenced-in yard. The amount that your home could sell for is the amount that you pay taxes on.
3. Not continuing your appeal after a rejection.
If you lose your initial appeal, you can actually appeal the rejection. You’ll have to go on to a different review board, and present all your proof that your home is overvalued again. But don’t think that this is a worthless action. Second appeals do actually work in many cases, and if you miss your chance to do this, or decide it’s not worth it, you are missing an important chance.
4. Having complicated arguments that require a lot of evidence.
We know it’s tempting to bring every shred of evidence you can to the review board, to prove beyond a doubt that your home is overvalued However, if you weigh your argument down with tons of very insignificant detail, the chances are that your appeal will be so cumbersome and long that you won’t win the favor of the review board. Get the most relevant, important facts, and present them in a way that is clear, to the point, and concise. This will help you keep your appeal argument strong, instead of being watered down with lots of detail that just don’t impress.
5. Choosing to represent yourself.
The appeals process is complex, and while you may know tons about your Fulton County property tax bill, it’s easy to overlook something that could have helped you. There will be a lot of questions from the review board about the appraisals on the home, any improvements you’ve made, any changes in local home values, and so much more.
When you work with a tax professional, you’ll be able to take advantage of every little technicality that can help you win your appeal. Representation can also help you prepare before the hearing. We’ll help you find all that research that builds a case, so that you have a better chance of having your tax bill reduced.
A Few Other Mistakes to Avoid
The five mistakes listed above are the most important mistakes to avoid when appealing your property tax. However, there are a few other mistakes to keep in mind.
First, don’t let your emotions get the better of you during the hearing. You want to be nice to the appeals committee. They really do have the ability to make the final ruling on your property tax bill, and they are humans. All humans are more likely to respond to niceness over anger, so keep that in mind.
Don’t try to argue that assessment value should be based on the price per square foot of buildings in your area. This is a very complicated argument, and price per square foot isn’t a characteristic that has much to do with the property tax assessment.
Finally, be sure to stick to what you want in your appeal. Don’t allow yourself to settle for a lower bill that isn’t what you believe is fair. There are many parties involved that want the case settled, and this means there will be pressure put on you to take a deal. But the fact is that you can succeed with what your research says is fair, a large majority of the time.
These are just a few more common mistakes that home owners make when appealing their Fulton County property tax bill. We can help you avoid these, and others.
Contact Us for More Information Today
If you want to avoid these mistakes and have the best chance of success, contact us at Fair Assessment. Our success rate is over 80%. We can be reached at 404-618-0355, or online. You can also email us at info@Fair-Assessemnt.com. We look forward to helping you save!
