As with any case involving the local government, the more reliable and relevant the information presented during the hearing, the more likely a taxpayer can win the case. This is true when you file a Clayton property tax appeal. The Board of Equalization (BOE), hearing officer, arbitrators, or Superior Court judge will appreciate an organized presentation of your evidence contradicting the evidence of the local tax assessors.
Besides, a systematic evidence presentation will be more persuasive in the appeal venues. Keep in mind that, unlike most civil and criminal cases, a property owner is well-advised to avoid tapping into the emotions of the tax authorities. Verifiable information presented in an organized manner will be more effective in a winning appeal.
But where to start getting better information? Let’s start with the things within your control including the following considerations.
Review the Real Property’s CDU
In many cases, the local tax assessors didn’t make physical inspections of your real property for the year in question. The assessed value may then be based on its condition, desirability and utility (CDU) since the last physical inspection, which may have been a few or several years ago. The result: Your real property was incorrectly assessed.
For this reason, you should conduct a physical inspection of your real property including the main structure itself, as well as the outlying structures (e.g., shed and gazebo) and yard improvements. You can take note of both the positive and negative things that can affect its overall value, such as peeling paint and rotting wood. You should also be on the lookout for functional obsolescence, such as outdated appliances, since it has a significant impact on property values.
When you want to file a Clayton property tax appeal, you have to be your home’s worst critic. You should look at your real property as a prospective buyer would before making the decision to buy or not to buy. You want to gather evidence that, indeed, the lower condition, desirability and utility of your property merits a lower assessment.
Research the Sales Data
The local tax assessors also used comparable sales data so it makes sense to use the same approach but with a difference. You should obviously present sales data in your favor, which a tax reduction consultant can work on. You may also just conduct your own research and present it in the following manner:
- Place the basic information (full address, account number, square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and number of floors, if applicable) about the subject property on top of the sales comparison chart.
- Array the relevant fields including year built, sale date and sales price, and price per square foot during the original sale, as well as the sales prices of comparable property in the area.
Bear in mind that comparable sales are among the cornerstones of your real property’s market value. The more updated the comparable sales data in your hands, the more persuasive your evidence can be.
Let’s face it, however. Gathering the information necessary to win your a Clayton property tax appeal can be a challenging task requiring more of your time, energy and even money than you can give. You should then consider hiring Fair Assessments, LLC, a professional tax reduction consultant to perform the nitty-gritty details of the job.
